News for Your Week Ahead: July 29, 2021

Connie Hess and Marc Reibman of USB Payment Processing join us to discuss their new cash flow management program Merchant as a Service.

Watch on YouTube.

Jonathan Rivlin joins us to tell us about his upcoming seminar and webinar, Firm of the Future on October 21st in Columbia, MD, or virtually.

Watch on YouTube.

Coming Up: On Wednesday, August 4th at 10 a.m., First Vice President Ana Barnabe will join us to tell us all about all the benefits of an MSATP membership! Are you certain you are taking full advantage of your membership? If not, tune in to find out about your benefits!

Be sure to Like/Follow us on Facebook so you can catch MSATP TV live every week.


NFIB: Senate Bill Limiting Small Business Deduction Will Hurt Small Business

The Hill reported that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) “released a bill that would overhaul a deduction for noncorporate business income that was created by Republicans’ 2017 tax law.” NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations Kevin Kuhlman “said in a statement that Wyden’s bill ‘would directly hurt small businesses’ ability to hire, invest in their businesses, and increase employees’ compensation, and threatens the fragile economic recovery.’”

For more information, please click here.


Security Summit: Tax Pros Should Encourage Clients to Obtain IP PINs to Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft | IR-2021-158

Internal Revenue Service Security Summit partners called on tax professionals to increase efforts to inform clients about the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program that can protect against tax-related identity theft.

The IRS, state tax agencies, and the nation’s tax industry – working together as the Security Summit  – need assistance from tax professionals to spread the word to clients that the IP PIN is now available to anyone who can verify their identity.

For more information, click here.


Guidelines for the Application of the Retail Sales and Use Tax to Sales of Accommodations Facilitated by Accommodations Intermediaries 

Effective September 1, 2021, Senate Bill 1398 (2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, Chapter 383) changes the application of the Retail Sales and Use Tax to sales of accommodations facilitated by accommodations intermediaries. The legislation makes similar changes to the local transient occupancy tax. Additionally, these changes will apply to the state-imposed transient occupancy taxes that fund transportation purposes in certain localities under Va. Code § 58.1-1743 and Va. Code § 58.1-1744 because these taxes are administered by local governments in the same manner as their local transient occupancy taxes. Virginia Tax has issued guidelines to provide processes and procedures for implementing the provisions of Va. Code §§ 58.1-602, 58.1-603, and 58.1-612.2, relating to the Retail Sales and Use Taxation of accommodations, as required by Senate Bill 1398.

For more information, click here.


Here’s what Taxpayers Need to Know About Higher Education Tax Credits | Tax Tip 2021-106

As a new school year approaches, students are considering what classes they need to take and how much the classes will cost. Whether it’s community college, a trade school, a four-year university or an advanced degree, higher education is expensive. The good news is tax credits can help offset these costs.

These credits reduce the amount of tax someone owes. If the credit reduces tax to less than zero, the taxpayer could even receive a refund.

For more information, click here.


Franchot Announces Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week, August 8-14 | Comptroller of Maryland

Comptroller Peter Franchot has announced that Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week returns August 8-14 with significant savings for consumers, scholarship opportunities for college and trade school students, and a much-needed sales boost for retailers.

“Tax-free week is a rite of Maryland’s late summer, signaling the approach of a new school year, cooler weather and a change of wardrobe,” Comptroller Franchot said. “Maryland’s high vaccination rates means life is beginning to return to normal. While I continue to urge caution, Marylanders should take advantage of tax-free week savings and support locally owned businesses that have been hit hard during the pandemic.”

For more information, click here.


Tax Tips for Students Working Summer Jobs | Tax Tip 2021-108

During the summer many students focus on making money from a summer job. They may want to gain work experience, earn some spending money or help pay for college. Here are some facts all student workers should know about summer jobs and taxes.

Not all the money they earn will make it to their pocket because employers must withhold taxes from their paycheck.

For more information, click here.


Special Edition of e-News for Small Business – Information for FIRE Users | Issue Number: 2021-11

The IRS will be making significant improvements to the Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) application process for new users. The new online Information Returns (IR) Application for Transmitter Control Code (TCC) is scheduled to deploy on September 26, 2021. The new application will be available on IRS.gov and will replace both the current Form 4419 and the Fill-in Form 4419 on the FIRE System.

For more information, click here.