Some businesses want to be able to help their employees in times of need. When properly structured, such assistance can qualify as a tax-free gift to the employee.
Normally, corporations can only deduct charitable contributions up to an amount that equals 10 percent or less of their taxable income in the given tax year. Under the CARES Act, this limitation was bumped to 25 percent of taxable income.
More recently, the December 2020 Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act (TCDTRA) temporarily upped the limit for corporate charitable contribution deductions to 100% for qualified disaster relief contributions.
The IRS has released additional guidance for corporations considering using the deduction. Here’s what you need to know.
The unexpected has increasingly become¦.well, expected. And failure to adequately plan for anticipated risks can subject directors to scrutiny for breaching their fiduciary duties. Having a business continuity plan is increasingly important; not only for ensuring the continued operation of essential services but also to shield directors from liability for failing to plan for such disruptions. Here’s what you need to know:
Business interruption insurance is most commonly designed to replace lost income in cases where a business premise is physically damaged or where access to the insured’s property is prohibited by closure orders from a civil authority because of damage to property surrounding the insured’s business.
As the economic hardships of the pandemic continue to mount, many are looking for ways to help employees weather the crisis. After 9/11, the Internal Revenue Code was amended to allow employers to make direct payments to employees for qualified disaster relief under Section 139. Likewise, employee assistance funds are also commonly used vehicles to provide disaster relief and/or emergency hardship financial support for people affiliated with a particular employer. Both vehicles serve not only to protect one of your business’s most important assets — your people — by getting them back to work, but they also serve to boost morale, build community, and reduce employee turnover in the long-run.
Now is the time for thoughtful and decisive action. But how does your board do this when you can’t physically convene? Hope isn’t lost. Here’s what you need to know to hold an emergency board meeting.
Familiarize yourself with the organization, its mission, and its effectiveness before giving. Always ask for information in writing “ be wary if an organization will not provide information about charitable programs and finances upon request. Any legitimate organization will be happy to send you information. Check guidestar.org to review the organization’s financial data and learn more about its mission and finances. Understand that its common for scammers to set-up websites with confusing similar names to well-known charities to steal personal information from those trying to donate. Scammers are also known to set up fake GoFundMe accounts.
Each year, the IRS publishes a report detailing what its focus will be regarding nonprofit organizations and compliance during the year to come. The following are some of the highlights from the 2012 Exempt Organizations Work Plan.
Most states require you to register your organization if you solicit donations from their residents. Many states also require registration if your organization collects substantial or ongoing donations from their residents, even if you aren’t specifically targeting donors in that state. Download our comprehensive list of each state’s requirements.
Download our free guide to learn about the many elements needed to run a successful nonprofit organization, as well as how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes.