employee retention credits Archives | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

IRS issues FAQs addressing Employee Retention Credits under OBBBA

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) addressing Employee Retention Credits (ERC) under the ERC compliance provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Although not final guidance, “a taxpayer who reasonably and in good faith relies on these FAQs will not be subject to a penalty that provides a reasonable cause standard for relief, including a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalty, to the extent that reliance results in an underpayment of tax.”

CARES Act Social Security Tax Deferral and Employee Retention Credits

The CARES Act provides for payroll tax relief, including employee retention tax credits and the deferral of all employer Social Security tax payments to help employers in the face of economic hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers should work with their tax advisors, payroll providers, and payroll departments to immediately implement these valuable savings. The broad-based employer and employee relief provided under the CARES Act includes two forms of payroll tax relief related to an employer’s Social Security tax payments: deferral of all employer Social Security tax payments, and employee retention tax credits of up to $5,000 for qualified wages paid to employees. All employers should consider taking advantage of these valuable tax savings to alleviate the broad and deep impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and their employees.

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