Wiss Blog - Wiss & Company, LLP

PPP Loans Become More Favorable for Small Business, Other Important Updates

Written on March 4, 2021. Posted in PPP, Small Business, State & Local Tax Services, Stimulus Package, Uncategorized.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) became more favorable to small business as the Small Business Administration (SBA) in cooperation with the Department of Treasury, revised the loan calculation for sole proprietors, independent contractors, and those that are self-employed increasing their chances of obtaining a higher loan amount in contrast to existing guidance. Other important updates were included in two new pieces of...

$1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan Released – Perhaps the 3rd Time is a Charm!

Written on March 2, 2021. Posted in Financial Planning, Stimulus Package, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Nicole DeRosa, CPA, MAcc, Senior Tax Manager The much anticipated $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was released by lawmakers last week and passed by House by a near party-line vote of 219-212 early Saturday morning. The third stimulus package is now on its way to the Senate, which is expected to pass in hopes to meet a mid-March deadline, albeit with some potential changes. Once signed into law by President Biden, this 592-page stimulus package will offer a wide range of...

Biden Administration Targeting PPP Aid to Smallest Businesses – 2 Week Delay Starting Wednesday Morning

Written on February 23, 2021. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business, PPP, Small Business.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory Early Monday morning, the Biden Administration announced it is instituting a 2-week period targeting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to small businesses only. The temporary freeze goes into effect Wednesday morning beginning at 9:00 am, and only small businesses with 20 or fewer employees will be eligible to apply for a PPP loan for the next 2 weeks. The move by the current Administration is an effort to provide much-needed funding...

SBA to Speed Up PPP Approval Process

Written on February 11, 2021. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business, PPP, Small Business.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory In response to concerns from the small business community regarding delays and processing issues with the latest round of PPP funding, the SBA released a procedural notice on 2/10 implementing changes to speed up the loan approval process. As many as 30% of all PPP loan applications have been delayed due to Hold or Error codes as a result of stepped-up front-end compliance and verification checks. Late last week, we covered the issues causing...

PPP Processing Delays – More Communication Required from SBA

Written on February 5, 2021. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business, PPP, State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager CFO Advisory When the Small Business Administration rolled out the Paycheck Protection Program in 2020, there was an immediate need to stem the losses and financial difficulties that small business owners were facing due to the pandemic and government-mandated shutdown orders. The early days of PPP were fraught with processing issues, incomplete or inconsistent guidance, and a lack of reliable resources for small business owners to reference when applying...

Capital Formation Advisory

Written on February 2, 2021. Posted in Advisory Services, Financial Planning, General Business.

Whatever stage your company is in, Wiss Capital Advisors can help you make the right financing decisions. We can advise on securing equity capital for growth-oriented companies, including expansion capital and pre-IPO financing. We can help you secure financing for a management buyout, management buy-in, or corporate divestiture. And we have the experience and expertise needed to help you in special situations, including acquisition financing, public-to-private transactions, and...

What type of entity should my startup be (a C-Corp or LLC)?

Written on February 1, 2021. Posted in Early Stage, Financial Planning, General Business, Small Business, Startups.

CPA and Partner at WISS & Co., Matt Barbieri discusses the reason he’s doing this podcast (basically to answer all those questions he gets over-and-over) and then answers a question he gets ALL THE TIME from startup founders, which is, What type of entity should our company be? Listen to the episode here… Still need more guidance? No problem! Reach out to a Wiss expert for answers. Contact Us

Gain More Certainty About Surety Bonds

Written on January 29, 2021. Posted in Construction, Financial Planning, General Business.

Looking to better understand the Surety Bond process? Join Tim Kennedy and Brian Reingold of our Construction Services Group for a 30-minute webinar to gain more certainty about your financial picture so that if you need a Surety Bond, you are better equipped. They’ll answer the top 10 most common questions and provide insights into your 3 keys to success: Building a well thought out Business Plan Ensuring quality Financial Management Selecting a Surety Agent Access the Webinar...

The Business Interest Expense Limitation under IRC Section 163(j): What You Need to Know for the 2020 Tax Year

Written on January 28, 2021. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business, State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Jennifer Beceiro, Tax Manager & Eliezer Gross, Real Estate Tax Director The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) amended IRC Section 163(j) that limited the deductibility of business interest expense for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Business interest expense is limited to the sum of the Taxpayer’s business interest income, floor plan financing interest, and 30% of Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI). There are two situations that Taxpayers may not be subject to the 163(j)...

Straight Outta Congress: How to Maximize the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) & Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Written on January 19, 2021. Posted in General Business, PPP, State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory This is a developing story; updates will be published as additional information becomes available. Update: March 3, 2021 As we enter March, we would like to remind our clients and friends that they may be eligible for 2 very beneficial programs: Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and a 1st Draw or 2nd Draw PPP loan. The ERC is a refundable credit which can now be claimed retroactively by PPP borrowers to 2020 if the company meets 2 main eligibility...

Using Form 941 For FFCRA Tax Credits

Written on January 14, 2021. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick, Director of HR Advisory Services, and Laura Melville, Manager, Outsourced Payroll This guide is to be a helpful resource to guide you through how to properly prepare your 4th quarter Form 941 should you have any paid sick or family leave wages under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for which you are claiming refundable tax credits. For further information on the details of this Act, read this blog. Earlier this year, the IRS had updated Form 941 to allow...

PPP “Yeah, You Know Me” – 3rd PPP Application Window Opening Soon

Written on January 8, 2021. Posted in PPP, State & Local Tax Services, Tax.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory Late Wednesday evening, the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) in coordination with the Department of Treasury, issued guidance for the revamped Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized by the Economic Aid Act of 2020. The newly released guidance includes: Interim Final Rule (IFR) “Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program as Amended” an 82-page consolidation of existing PPP guidance in the form of 24...

Breaking Down the Employee Retention Credit in the New COVID Relief Bill

Written on January 6, 2021. Posted in State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Ilya Brodetskiy, Tax Manager Some significant updates are affecting the Employee Retention Credit, but there are still some important unknowns. Businesses that were ineligible for the ERC because they applied for PPP funding or who had over 100 full-time employees should reevaluate their eligibility based on the expanded program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 introduced major changes to the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The first change allows businesses that...

Payroll/HR End of Year – What You Need To Know

Written on December 23, 2020. Posted in General Business, Human Resources.

by Lisa Calick, Director of HR Advisory Services It has been quite a year, and most of us are glad to see 2020 come to an end. Businesses have had to pivot pretty quickly in a number of areas due to the pandemic this year. Before we ring in the new year, it is important to note the following changes, many of which result from the stimulus relief bill passed by Congress. While this bill is not yet law, employers should be aware of the provisions that may be applicable to them if...

Show me the money…again! Congress agrees to $900B Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020

Written on December 21, 2020. Posted in General Business, State & Local Tax Services, Tax Alerts.

By Nicole DeRosa, CPA, MAcc, Senior Tax Manager, and Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory Congressional leaders are close to finalizing the next round of stimulus, referred to as the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020 providing for $900 billion in government funds aimed at supporting small businesses and the ailing economy. The coronavirus relief bill is expected to pass with bi-partisan support, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law quickly. The relief...

The Lasso Way: Management Lessons from Ted Lasso

Written on December 1, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized, Wiss Gets Personal.

By William Haemmerle, Director of Transaction Advisory Services There are certain people we meet throughout our lives that we know will change us forever. They encourage us to become a better version of ourselves. I recently met one of those people while watching the first season of Ted Lasso on AppleTV. Yes, I said watching a television show! Beginning with the 2013-2014 season, NBC acquired the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. The network ran promotional commercials...

Technology and Cybersecurity in a Work-From-Home World: Q&A with Wiss’s Director of Information Technology Joe Turk

Written on November 30, 2020. Posted in Technology.

By Lisa Calick Series introduction: In this four-part Q&A series, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Lisa Calick speaks with experts from Wiss to learn about the challenges that clients face due to the changes in work arrangements and culture as a result of the pandemic. As a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), I spend my days giving human resources advice to Wiss clients, helping them with everything from benefits inquiries to staying in compliance with...

Questions About Remote Work and Payroll: A Q&A with Wiss’s Outsourced Payroll Manager Laura Melville

Written on November 23, 2020. Posted in General Business.

Managing People, Pandemic-style: A Q&A with Wiss’s Director of People Operations Amanda Dominguez

Written on November 23, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

Series introduction: In this four-part Q&A series, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Lisa Calick speaks with experts from Wiss to learn about the challenges that clients face due to the changes in work arrangements and culture as a result of the pandemic. As a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), I spend my days giving human resources advice to Wiss clients, helping them with everything from benefits inquiries to staying in compliance with employment laws....

Unintended Effect of PPP Loan Forgiveness: Reduction in R&D Credit

Written on November 19, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, CFO Advisory The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides loans to small and mid-size businesses to cover payroll and other specific costs during the coronavirus pandemic. PPP loans may be forgiven under particular circumstances, and are typically excluded from taxable income. Sounds simple—and if you focus on the question of payroll costs, it is. But companies that are interested...

Treasury and IRS Issue Guidance on Deductibility of Expenses Related to a PPP Loan

Written on November 19, 2020. Posted in State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Michael Bodrato, Director of Taxes The US Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released guidance on November 18, 2020, in Rev. Rul. 2020-27 and Rev. Proc. 2020-51, clarifying the tax treatment of expenses where a loan received under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) has not been forgiven by the end of the year in which the loan was received. The IRS clarified in a notice issued on May 18, 2020, that since under the CARES Act businesses are not taxed on the proceeds...

Preparing Your Company for Sale (Even If You Aren’t Ready)

Written on November 17, 2020. Posted in General Business.

By William Haemmerle, Director of Transaction Advisory Services “Luck favors the prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur Most business owners never really worry about selling their company until something happens – they decide to retire, there is a succession issue, or they receive an unsolicited offer. Unless preparations have been made, none of these situations provide significant time to get the financial, operational, or legal house in order. If you fall in this category, it is...

What Can the Pandemic Teach Us About Recruiting?

Written on November 16, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

Series introduction: In this four-part Q&A series, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Lisa Calick speaks with experts from Wiss to learn about the challenges that clients face due to the changes in work arrangements and culture as a result of the pandemic. A Q&A with Wiss’s Practice Leader for Recruiting, Kevin Kurtz As a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), I spend my days giving human resources advice to Wiss clients, helping them with everything from...

How a Biden Administration May Change the Tax Landscape

Written on November 11, 2020. Posted in State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Laurie Smith With the presidential election in our rearview window (barely), next up on everyone’s mind is how president-elect Joe Biden’s tax proposals may impact you. Before we get into the details of some key proposals and planning opportunities, it is important to note there are still many unknowns. Crucially, it will not be clear until early-to-mid-January 2021 which party will control the Senate, the result of two run-off races in Georgia taking place on January 5. The outcome...

NJ Corporate Tax Update

Written on November 10, 2020. Posted in General Business, Tax.

by Azra Khan New Jersey enacted technical and substantive changes to 2018 Corporation Business Tax Reform On November 4, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law SB 3007 /AB 4809, which makes some significant changes to the Corporation Business Tax Act (“CBTA”) that may have both favorable and unfavorable results for corporate taxpayers based on specific circumstances. Many provisions of the bill are effective for the 2019 tax year so it will be important to analyze the impact as soon...

IRS OK’s SALT Cap Workarounds

Written on November 10, 2020. Posted in Tax.

By Azra Khan On Monday, the IRS announced that it will be issuing proposed regulations allowing partnerships and S corporations to deduct state and local income taxes in full. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, individual taxpayers are currently limited to a state tax deduction of $10,000, annually (otherwise known as the “SALT cap”). Some states, including New Jersey, Connecticut and several others have enacted a so-called “workaround” of the SALT Cap, either mandating or allowing...

Retirement Plan Limits Announced for 2021

Written on November 9, 2020. Posted in Employee Benefit Plan Audits.

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) announced on October 26, 2020, the retirement plan contribution limits, adjusted for cost-of-living adjustments, for 2021. These adjustments can be found in greater detail in IRS Notice 2020-79. The COVID-19 pandemic’s continuing impact on the U.S. economy contributed to relatively flat changes in the 2021 COLA amounts as U.S. economic deflation during the first half of 2020 impacted the COLA metrics. The IRS increased the IRS annual compensation...

SBA Releases Loan Necessity Questionnaire’s for Large Borrowers

Written on November 2, 2020. Posted in Advisory Services.

By: Travis Miskowitz After many months of waiting and speculation, on Monday October 26th, 2020 the Small Business Administration issued a notice stating the intended release of two new forms available here relating to FAQ – questions #31, which describes each borrowers good faith certifications that current economic conditions made the PPP loan necessary to support ongoing business operations. While this guidance was not available at the time business could apply for the PPP loan...

HR Alert: New Jersey Executive Order

Written on October 29, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick This week, Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order that establishes mandatory health and safety standards in an effort to protect workers across all industries in New Jersey during the pandemic. The Executive Order requires both private and public sector employers to follow health and safety protocols for their in-office employees effective November 5, 2020. These new standards include the following health and safety protocols: Health screening of all employees...

What Federal Tax Policy Changes Can We Expect? Clues From the Campaign Trail

Written on October 28, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Michael LaMotta By this time next week, the U.S. presidential election will be in the rearview mirror, and we’ll all have more questions than we have answers. One of those big questions will be: What is the new president-elect’s vision for the tax code? Neither of the candidates has laid out a formal, detailed plan for this, although they have left clues about some aspects of tax policy along the campaign trail. Tax policy is an underappreciated element of federal policy; considering...

Do You Qualify for the New Jersey PILOT Program?

Written on October 26, 2020. Posted in Real Estate.

By Alexander J. Narcise and Michael Kroll Under New Jersey’s Payment In Lieu of Taxes (“PILOT”) program (N.J.S.A. 40A:20-1), many distressed areas of the state are seeing a resurgence. The PILOT program allows municipalities to exempt developers from full property taxes for a set period of time when making improvements to existing buildings or creating new projects in areas in need of redevelopment, aiming to encourage commercial, residential, and industrial development. Developers...

Nonprofit Updated Guidance on Reporting for ‘Gifts In Kind’

Written on September 28, 2020. Posted in Not For Profit.

By Diana Miller On September 17, 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2020-07, Presentation and Disclosures by Not-for-Profit Entities for Contributed Nonfinancial Assets. Nonprofits have been challenged to measure the value of the multitude of contributions they receive (which is not always easy) and are often scrutinized by watchdog agencies, donors, or other regulators. The reason for this update is to improve transparency...

Unemployment Fraud Alert

Written on September 24, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized.

By Lisa Calick The increased number of unemployment filings over the past few months in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the number of fraudulent claims filed, as reported by many states across the country. In many cases, third parties attempt to file for unemployment insurance benefits using the name and personal information of someone else who is not out of work. Employers are finding they are receiving claim notices for individuals that are either actively...

New York State Paid Sick Leave Law

Written on September 16, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick All New York State employers will soon need to abide by a new paid sick leave law, which takes effect on September 30, 2020. Whereas local jurisdictions such as New York City and Westchester County have existing paid sick leave laws in effect, there was previously no statewide mandate. The amount of sick time provided will vary based on the employer’s size and net income from the previous tax year: Employers with 4 or fewer employees, and a net income of $1 million...

FFCRA Paid Leave Update: Return to School

Written on September 1, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick On August 27, 2020, the United States Department of Labor issued new guidance in the form of three additional FAQs to define when a school is considered closed for purposes of leave entitlements under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The additional guidance covers three scenarios: Hybrid Learning When the school operates through hybrid learning, students attend in-person on certain days and through remote learning on other days. In these situations, the...

IRS Issues Guidance Addressing President Trump’s Order on Payroll Tax Deferral

Written on August 31, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Michael Bodrato Presidential Memorandum On August 8th, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to direct the Treasury Secretary to use his authority to defer the withholding, deposit and payment of certain payroll taxes from employees suffering under the economic hardships brought about by the Coronavirus Pandemic. The President’s order is made applicable to wages and compensation paid during the period of September 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020, and is subject...

IRS Backlog Causing Incorrect Late Payment Notices

Written on August 24, 2020. Posted in Tax.

By Mike Bodrato The Internal Revenue Service, in its most recent update on IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief webpage, has posted information regarding the handling of incorrect late payment notices. The IRS notes that they continue to process returns and issue refunds and are working hard to get through its correspondence backlog. However, the IRS states that it is experiencing delays in processing returns, due to limited staffing. The backlog of correspondence includes checks that have...

Helping New Employees Feel Belonging in a Remote Work World

Written on August 20, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized.

Questions & Wiss Answers: An interview with Amanda Dominguez, Director of People Operations With employees working from home, how can companies make sure new hires are really part the team? Even before the Covid-19 era, research showed that onboarding was one of the biggest challenges for organizations. The need to onboard remotely provides a chance to think about this important process in new ways, including ensuring that you’re putting the right emphasis on making sure new...

HR Compliance Checklist

Written on August 11, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick Regardless of a company’s size, it is important to make sure that its policies and practices comply with employment laws that exist at the Federal, State, and Local levels. Doing so will help to minimize liability and risk. Below are some key areas that a company should pay close attention to. Hiring and Onboarding Have job descriptions and job postings been reviewed to ensure they are current and contain accurate information? If employment applications are used,...

Get To Know Federal Tax Form 5471, and The Post-2017 Revisions

Written on August 7, 2020. Posted in State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Mary Vasilescu The IRS collects information about foreign corporations with substantial United States (U.S.) ownership interests using Federal Tax Form 5471, Information Return for U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations. Form 5471 is used by certain U.S. persons who are officers, directors, or shareholders of certain foreign corporations to satisfy the reporting required under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the related Treasury Regulations. Beware Hefty...

SBA Releases Long-Awaited Loan Forgiveness FAQs

Written on August 5, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz At long last, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of the Treasury have released guidance addressing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness. This guidance can be relied upon as the SBA’s interpretation of Section 1106 of the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), as amended by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (Flexibility Act). Consistent with previous updates, the SBA has decided to provide...

Main Street Lending Program modified to provide greater access to Nonprofits

Written on July 17, 2020. Posted in Not For Profit.

By Diana Miller On Friday, July 17th, the Federal Reserve Board modified the Main Street Lending Program, providing additional access to nonprofit organizations such as social service organizations, hospitals, and educational institutions. Nonprofit organizations are vital to the communities they serve and these changes are welcomed news to the nonprofit sector. Although not yet operational, 2 new loan options were released today to help nonprofit organizations due to the COVID pandemic....

Families First Coronavirus Response Act Paid Leave Update: Summer Childcare

Written on July 8, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick With the passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) earlier this year, employers have been addressing their obligations to provide employees with paid leave for various COVID-19 related reasons, including leave for employees who are not able to work or telework due to a need to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed as a result of the pandemic. Now that the school year has ended, it is important for employers to understand that...

The 5 Proofs to Ensure Investment Readiness

Written on June 16, 2020. Posted in Early Stage, General Business.

By Mark Brenner, CEO and Co-Founder, WEST Growth 1. Progressive milestones Most early-stage companies don’t have much money unless the founders are independently wealthy. So when most companies come to us, they have maybe ten different things they’re working on, but they don’t have the resources to do those ten things. It’s a priority to identify how much the next raise should be and what needs to happen to get that raise. Those raising capital will need to tell that group of investors...

How Companies Can Plan To Reopen the Office

Written on June 12, 2020. Posted in General Business, Healthcare.

By Lisa Calick States have begun to ease restrictions put on businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including laying out timelines for when many businesses may open. Companies now face significant challenges regarding how to reopen their offices safely. A carefully planned approach to returning to work will be necessary to make sure workers are safe and confident and that the business can thrive. Planning the Approach The approach to opening is fairly straightforward — plan, open...

Lease Accounting: The path to compliance extended another year

Written on June 10, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized.

by Dino Zicopoulos The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)’s Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02 (Topic 842, Leases), issued in 2016, brought changes to the way companies account for leases on their balance sheets. Recently, however, due to COVID-19, the implementation of this standard was deferred for private companies by another year and is now effective for private companies with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021—effectively for companies with calendar...

Main Street Lending Program Expanded to More Businesses

Written on June 10, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz Update 6/10/20 On Monday, June 8th, the Federal Reserve Board again revised the Main Street Lending Program, providing increased access to more small and medium-sized businesses. The $600 billion loan program has yet to fund a single loan, and criticism of the Fed’s latest stimulus effort in recent weeks has put pressure on the Fed to relax certain requirements, providing more flexibility to eligible borrowers. The Fed has received a growing chorus of complaints...

HR Alert: New Jersey Issues Poster Regarding Employee Misclassification

Written on June 8, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick A new mandatory poster has been made available for New Jersey businesses. Earlier in the year, Governor Murphy signed into legislation new laws intended to combat worker misclassification. Part of that package included a requirement for companies to conspicuously post a notice, which has now been released. While the notice is to be placed at the worksite, there has been no guidance on how to handle that process in our current environment with so many companies operating...

PPP Flexibility Act Passes Senate, significantly decreases barrier to loan forgiveness

Written on June 4, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz The Senate unanimously approved H.R. 7010 – Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020. By passing the House bill, the Senate avoids a long and drawn out reconciliation process. The President is expected to sign the bill into law quickly. While the bill provides much needed flexibility to small businesses, there is one change that can significantly impact a borrower’s ability to achieve loan forgiveness. The tersely worded bill provides for only 7 bullet...

Confusion as Stimulus Payments Arrive On Prepaid Debit Cards

Written on June 3, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Craig R. Erickson, CPA, Partner, Wiss With cybersecurity breaches, identity theft and other cyber-crimes on the rise during this pandemic, the amount of skepticism shown in the exchange above is warranted and refreshing. But have no fear: That prepaid debit card you have received is in fact an Economic Impact Payment Card (EIPCard), which contains your federal relief payment provided for by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Over the past few days,...

Latest PPP Loan Forgiveness Guidance Released: Fails to Address Two Key Requirements

Written on May 26, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

On Friday May 22nd, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department issued two new Interim Final Rules (IFR): one covering Loan Forgiveness and the other covering Loan Review Procedures. The loan forgiveness guidance, which builds upon the loan forgiveness application and instructions that were released May 15th, still does not make changes to provisions for the 75/25 requirement to spend PPP funds on payroll and non-payroll costs, or the 8-week (56-day) covered...

PPP Loan Forgiveness Application – Overview of Required Documentation

Written on May 20, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Tricia Meola On May 15th, the Small Business Administration released the highly anticipated Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application. The application is lengthy, the calculations are complex, and the instructions aren’t the most straight-forward. At first (and second) glance, the application process is quite overwhelming! In order to assist you, we are going to break down the components beginning here with the four main areas of required documentation. Please...

SBA Releases Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application

Written on May 19, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz On Friday May 15th, the Small Business Administration released the long-awaited Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan forgiveness application. The forgiveness application includes detailed instructions for borrowers to calculate their eligible costs and determine the amount of PPP loan forgiveness. The form provides more guidance than previously available, but still not as clear as we’d hoped. There are still unanswered questions and we anticipate additional...

SBA Clarifies Safe Harbor Status for Loans Under $2 Million

Written on May 14, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz On 5/13/2020, the SBA issued FAQ 46 which grants Safe Harbor status to all loans under $2MM. Small businesses received a welcome update today via SBA FAQ 46 which states that businesses, including their affiliates, that accepted Paycheck Protection Program loans of $2 million or less, will be assumed to have performed the required certification in good faith. The PPP application requires small business owners to certify in good faith that “current economic uncertainty...

Are You Applying For the PPP in Good Faith? How to Document Your PPP Loan Application Decision

Written on May 4, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz One important aspect of applying for a PPP loan is certifying in good faith that your loan request is necessary. The PPP application asks you whether “current economic uncertainty makes your loan request necessary to support your ongoing operations.” We have put together this list of considerations to help you assess in good faith and officially justify your need for this emergency funding. Read this today to ensure your business has made an informed decision...

Expenses Relating to PPP Forgiveness are Nondeductible

Written on May 4, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Evan Gernant On Thursday, April 30, the IRS issued Notice 2020-32 clarifying that to the extent a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan is forgiven, the associated expenses will be nondeductible for federal tax purposes. The CARES Act made it clear that any amount of forgiveness of a PPP loan would be non-taxable. What was not addressed and left for interpretation was whether the associated expenses would be tax-deductible. Many were hopeful for a better ruling from the IRS...

Frequently Asked Questions About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Written on May 4, 2020. Posted in General Business, Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick I’ve been forced to furlough my employees due to a slowdown in business operations. Are they still eligible for the leave entitlements as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act? Unfortunately no. If you have furloughed your employees because there is not enough work for them, they are not entitled to take paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the Act. They may, however, be eligible for unemployment benefits through your State. Many...

Do You Need to Return Your PPP Loan? SBA Clarifies Eligibility Guidance Through FAQ Update

Written on May 1, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz Update: As of Wednesday, May 6, the safe-harbor deadline for returning PPP funds has been extended to May 14. Complete the application, provide supporting documentation, and you should be well on your way to a forgivable loan. All the better since you must spend the money on payroll costs in order to receive forgiveness. It is called Paycheck Protection after all, right? Not so fast according to recent updates published by the SBA. The SBA has recently issued...

New Jersey’s Amended Family Leave and Temporary Disability Laws

Written on April 24, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, on April 14, Governor Murphy recently signed into law new amendments to the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) and New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefits Law (NJTDBL) to provide additional coverage for employees whose need for leave relates to an epidemic of a communicable disease, known or suspected exposure to a communicable disease, or efforts to prevent the spread of a communicable disease. The NJFLA had previously...

The Path to PPP Loan Forgiveness: Start Preparing Right Away

Written on April 24, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

Update: On Friday, May 15th, the SBA released the application for Paycheck Protection Program Loan forgiveness. Please see this article, which highlights key elements and guidance to the application process. By Travis Miskowitz Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are designed to be forgiven, but it doesn’t happen automatically. It’s best to get a plan in place to work toward maximum forgiveness as soon as you receive your PPP loan. The SBA is expected to issue additional guidance...

Congress Agrees to Additional Funding for Small Businesses

Written on April 21, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz This is a developing story and information contained in this article is subject to change. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available. Congress has agreed upon a Bi-Partisan deal to provide an additional $484 billion in funding for small businesses, hospitals, and coronavirus testing. The Senate and House are expected to quickly approve the bill with the backing of the White House. The bill is expected to be signed into law as early...

Latest Cyber Security Threats

Written on April 16, 2020. Posted in Technology.

By David Singletary As more people start working from home, they are taking advantage of online conference services like Zoom. Over 500,000 unique Zoom account credentials were discovered on dark web hacker forums. Exposed data includes victims’ email addresses, passwords, personal meeting URLs, and HostKeys, and were likely gathered through credential stuffing attacks. NJCCIC “The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell “ recommends the following when using...

SBA Curtails Acceptance of EIDL Applications

Written on April 16, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz The SBA just announced they are unable to accept new applications at this time for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding. Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to incredibly high demand, the SBA had recently amended some key benefits of the EIDL Loan program. With millions...

Updated PPP Guidance: Self-Employed Business Owners and Partnerships

Written on April 16, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz Paycheck Protection Program Updates – April 14, 2020 NOTE: As of April 16, 2020 the SBA is advising applicants that funds for the PPP loan program have been exhausted. Congress is currently negotiating and working to infuse an additional $250 billion into the program. This guidance is applicable when the SBA begins accepting applications again. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. On April 14, 2020 the U.S. Small business...

Net Operating Losses Under the CARES Act

Written on April 10, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Evan Gernant On Thursday, April 9, the IRS issued guidance on the treatment of net operating losses under the provisions of the CARES Act. Revenue Procedure 2020-24 provides procedures to elect to revoke the carryback period for NOLs arising in 2018 and/or 2019 Background: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the treatment of NOLs. It generally provided that NOLs arising in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 were no longer permitted to be carried back and are deductible...

Additional Tax Filing Relief from the IRS

Written on April 10, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Michael Bodrato The IRS released yesterday additional tax return filing and payment relief in Notice 2020-23, which applies to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline falling on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, including individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other non-corporate tax filers. In addition, Notice 2020-23 provides that this period of time will be disregarded by the IRS in calculating any interest, penalty, or additions to tax...

Documenting Expenses to Support PPP Loan Forgiveness

Written on April 7, 2020. Posted in Advisory Services, Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz The Paycheck Protection Program allows loans of up to $10 million at 1% interest to employers with fewer than 500 workers. The purpose of the program is for employers to retain their employees; the loan amount is intended to cover two months of payroll and overhead. The government will forgive most or all of the loan if the company keeps its workers and does not cut wages. The maximum amount of the PPP loan that is eligible for forgiveness is equal to the amount...

Workforce Reduction Considerations: Layoff vs Furlough

Written on April 6, 2020. Posted in Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick Many businesses are struggling to manage their workforces in the current climate. While recently passed economic stimulus packages have provided incentives for companies to retain their employees, in many cases companies have had significant business interruptions and still may be forced to consider letting some employees go. Business owners may be considering layoffs or furloughs, but may not understand the difference. A layoff is a separation from payroll and may...

NYC Relief Available for Small Businesses

Written on April 1, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Tricia Meola In an effort to help small businesses deal with the overwhelming impacts of COVID-19, New York City has launched the following two initiatives: NYC Employee Retention Grant Program Created to help companies retain employees as businesses face decreased revenue as a result of COVID-19 Eligible businesses will receive a grant covering up to 40% of their payroll for two months; maximum funding of $27,000 Eligibility requirements include: Must be located within the...

New Jersey Economic Initiatives for Small Businesses

Written on April 1, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Tricia Meola Many small businesses are already aware of the options made available to them under federal programs enacted by the CARES Act. The State of New Jersey is also backing these businesses in an effort to stimulate growth through various economic initiatives. Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program Created to provide total of $10 million to NJ small businesses and non-profits to cover operating expenses and ensure continuity of business during COVID-19 outbreak;...

SBA Preps Banks for Mobilizing Around PPP Applications, Provides Further Clarity Regarding Parameters

Written on April 1, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz Following President Trump’s signing of the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin yesterday announced that the SBA and Treasury Department have initiated a robust mobilization effort of banks and other lending institutions to provide small businesses with the capital they need. The CARES Act establishes a new $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program. The Program...

COVID-19 Spawns New Phishing Scams

Written on March 31, 2020. Posted in General Business, Technology.

by David Singletary As the country and world are trying to deal with recent COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals are taking advantage of people’s quest for information. You’ve probably noticed a plethora of emails from every retailer, software company, or business you’ve dealt with in recent years. Cybercriminals see an excellent opportunity to slide in phishing scams amid all the information being sent your way. The following are two examples: What’s...

Loan Modifications and Options

Written on March 30, 2020. Posted in Real Estate.

By Tricia Meola With the effects COVID-19 has created for the US, federal, state and local governments are working hard to respond to the growing public health threats – but what about the financial uncertainties? As unemployment rates rise and millions of Americans continue to file for unemployment benefits, many are faced with the inability to satisfy their mortgage obligations and are aware of their options. Know your mortgage The most important place to begin is to be acquainted...

Anticipating COVID-19 Impact on Commercial Real Estate

Written on March 30, 2020. Posted in General Business, Real Estate.

By Russell L. Faye With the global pandemic caused by the COVID-19, the commercial office market has felt an immediate impact. For commercial real estate professionals, please consider the following as you navigate through these challenging times: Be prepared for enhanced cleaning for an extended period. Government officials have suggested enhanced cleaning procedures and measures and building operators across the county have quickly implemented these enhanced measures. Consider...

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan vs. The Paycheck Protection Program

Written on March 30, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz On March 27th, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a stimulus bill that includes a loan program to keep small businesses afloat during mandated COVID-19-related closures. The CARES Act includes a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which authorizes up to $349 billion of federally guaranteed loans to qualifying small businesses. This new loan program is based on the architecture of the SBA’s existing...

Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Emergency Economic Injury Grants: What You Need to Know

Written on March 29, 2020. Posted in Advisory Services, Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan THE BASICS What is the criteria for a loan approval? Credit History – applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA Repayment – SBA must determine that the applicant business has the ability to repay the SBA loan Eligibility – the applicant business must be physically located in a declared county and suffered working capital losses due to the declared disaster, not due to a downturn in the economy or other reasons How...

Paycheck Protection Enacted For Small Businesses

Written on March 27, 2020. Posted in Financial Planning, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz [Updated 4/3/2020] Congress passed “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act), which included the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) for small businesses. PPP applications can be obtained from participating SBA lenders beginning today. Many banks have reported that they may be requiring submissions to come from current banking clients while others have been struggling to get all the necessary steps in place. While each bank is creating...

Key Tax Provisions of the $2 Trillion CARES Act

Written on March 26, 2020. Posted in General Business, Tax, Tax Alerts.

By Mike Bodrato The Senate voted last night, 96-0, to approve the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act, which has more than $2 trillion in spending and tax breaks to assist economically and fund a nationwide effort to stop the coronavirus. At this writing, the CARES Act is still awaiting House approval and the President’s signature, which is not expected until tomorrow. The bipartisan legislation includes about $500 billion that can be used to back...

401(k) Plans and the Coronavirus

Written on March 25, 2020. Posted in Employee Benefit Plan Audits.

By Craig Erickson With the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 causing vast uncertainties in the economy, employers that sponsor employee benefit plans and the plan fiduciaries must continue to manage and administer their benefit plans, as well as address inquiries from their participants. The following are some topics that may be helpful during these times. Hardship Withdrawals Plan sponsors may receive calls from plan participants in the near future asking for ways they can financially...

Coronavirus Retirement Plan Review

Written on March 25, 2020. Posted in Employee Benefit Plan Audits.

By Craig Erickson With the continual uncertainty we are facing each day, it is important to keep in mind that changes in legislation may impact your current design of your employee benefit plan. Following are some topics Plan sponsors and fiduciaries of employee benefit plans may overlook. 401(k) and Profit-Sharing Plans: Employer Contributions – Plan sponsors and fiduciaries may want to consider reducing or halting employer contributions. For non-safe harbor plans (match or non-elective...

Managing Cash Flow During Crisis

Written on March 23, 2020. Posted in Advisory Services, General Business.

By Travis Miskowitz, Manager, Wiss CFO Advisory Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. During this (or any) time of crisis, it is imperative to keep an eye on your cash flow and regularly monitor your cash position. Instituting effective cash flow management may be the most important action you can take to navigate through challenging times. The Wiss team has put together this list of recommendations to help monitor your progress: Monitor your cash flow regularly With the...

IRS Releases Official Guidance After Treasury Secretary’s Announcement

Written on March 21, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

by Evan Gernant Following Secretary Mnuchin’s earlier announcement, the Treasury Department released guidance on Friday, which supersedes and expands upon the guidance issued earlier this week that gave taxpayers extra time to pay their taxes but not to file. The new guidance provides for the following relief: The filing of 2019 federal income tax returns and the payment of 2019 federal income tax (including tax on self-employment income) due on April 15, 2020, is automatically...

Tax Filing Deadline Moved to July 15

Written on March 20, 2020. Posted in Uncategorized.

by Evan Gernant Secretary Mnuchin announced, this morning, that the filing deadline for 2019 tax returns will be moved to July 15, 2020. This modifies the IRS announcement from Tuesday which allowed for tax payments to be deferred to July 15, but explicitly required that tax returns be filed by April 15. Today’s announcement is welcomed news to many taxpayers and tax professionals who felt the original relief fell short of what was needed at this time. We will continue to monitor...

Family First Coronavirus Response Act

Written on March 19, 2020. Posted in Healthcare, Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick President Trump has now signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, providing emergency economic relief and support to American workers who may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act applies to businesses with less than 500 employees and will take effect on April 2, 2020. There are two main aspects of the Act as outlined below: Emergency Paid Sick Leave This portion of the Act allows eligible employees to take two weeks of paid sick leave in...

How U.S. Healthcare Organizations can Secure Their Operations to Better Support Patient Care

Written on March 18, 2020. Posted in Healthcare.

by Michael Castle Uncertainty still abounds on whether and how the virus could mutate as well as how many waves of the outbreak might take place. And with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning that it’s no longer a matter of if but when the coronavirus spreads further within the United States, patient care is priority #1. Still, for U.S. healthcare organizations, business continuity management is critical, and they must have a proper risk plan in place sooner...

U.S. Treasury Response to the Coronavirus

Written on March 18, 2020. Posted in Tax, Tax Alerts.

by Evan Gernant The Coronavirus has intruded into all facets of our lives. As we all try to grapple with the uncertainty this situation brings we still find ourselves in the midst of tax filing season, an already stressful time for business owners and other taxpayers. The Treasury Department issued guidance yesterday clarifying Secretary Mnuchin’s announcement on Tuesday that taxpayers can delay income tax payments due April 15, 2020. The guidance provides that for all taxpayers...

Coronavirus Relief Update for Employers in New York and New Jersey

Written on March 18, 2020. Posted in General Business, Human Resources.

By Lisa Calick Like many of you, we have been working to keep up with current news regarding information for businesses and their employees. The speed at which there are changes and announcements at the federal and state levels is rapid, and our goal is always to relay that information. Federal, state and local governments are working to develop financial aid packages to help businesses that are struggling as a result of the pandemic. As companies struggle with how to continue their...

Continual Planning to Keep your Business Running Effectively During This Crisis

Written on March 16, 2020. Posted in General Business, Technology.

By David Singletary As we all continue to face the abrupt changes in the way in which we work and the pressures on all of us to keep our businesses going during this crisis, I want to share with you some key insights and things to continue to think about as we move through this “remote” time. Please know that I along with our team are here to help you in any way that we can. There are some key elements that each of us needs to ensure are in place to create the most effective way...

5 Questions to Prepare Your COVID-19 Readiness

Written on March 13, 2020. Posted in Advisory Services, General Business.

By Paul Ursich Beyond the immense impacts the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is having on public health, the pandemic directly impacts economic activity and poses unique challenges to businesses across industries because of its potentially compounding and unpredictable consequences. With massive quarantines, travel restrictions and factory shutdowns, companies are struggling to quantify potential exposure. Attempting to mitigate potential losses from an unknown number of variables...

Employer Concerns in the Wake of the Coronavirus

Written on March 9, 2020. Posted in Healthcare, Human Resources.

by Lisa Calick The Coronavirus is on everyone’s mind, and while news channels continue to report on the speed in which the virus is spreading, fear and panic has started to set in. Employers should take proactive steps to not only communicate to their employees, but to also develop contingency plans should an outbreak disrupt their normal business operations. Your employees want to know that you care about their safety and have a plan in place, so if your business has not yet started...

New Jersey’s Changing Laws Regarding Independent Contractors

Written on February 13, 2020. Posted in Advisory Services, Human Resources.

by Lisa Calick, SPHR New Jersey continues down the path of strengthening employee rights in the workplace, with recent legislation designed to help and protect workers. Last month Governor Murphy signed several bills into law to combat worker misclassification. Below is a summary of newly enacted laws which New Jersey businesses should pay close attention to: Penalties for Misclassification New Jersey employers that misclassify workers as independent contractors may be liable for...

Elective Business Alternative Income Tax for Pass-Through Entities to Address Federal Limitation on State and Local Deduction

Written on January 21, 2020. Posted in State & Local Tax Services, Tax, Tax Alerts.

On January 13, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law Senate Bill 3246 establishing the business alternative income tax, an elective New Jersey business tax for pass-through entities. A corresponding refundable state gross income tax credit is allowed for the owners of the pass-through entities to offset personal or corporate income tax liability. The pass-through entity tax applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. The intent of the new legislation is to...

Rising to the Challenge: How Wiss Responded to Historic Tax Legislation

Written on January 7, 2020. Posted in Tax.

An interview with Michael LaMotta, Partner-in-Charge, Tax Services at Wiss & Co. LLP On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. It presented the most significant changes to the tax code in over thirty years, and its effects were wide-ranging. Everyone from individual taxpayers and business owners to accountants and financial advisers had to learn the ropes. Now, two years after the bill was passed, many are still playing catch-up. “When the tax reform...

Nonprofit News Special Update: Parking Tax Repealed and Single Rate Excise Tax for Private Foundations

Written on January 2, 2020. Posted in Not For Profit.

by Linda Curro The government funding legislation passed by Congress in December 2019 includes the repeal of the Internal Revenue Code § 512(a)(7), commonly referred to as the “Parking Tax.” The legislation was signed by the President on December 20th, 2019. The original provision, enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts, required tax-exempt organizations to include in unrelated business income the amounts they pay or incur on qualified transportation fringe benefits. ...

Employee Perspective: Stephanie Hughes on Financial Strategies for the Second Generation

Written on January 2, 2020. Posted in Estate and Business Succession Planning, Family Office, Financial Planning.

by Stephanie Hughes All employees have financial concerns, but for those who are also parents, these concerns can be especially overwhelming. From childcare to higher education, financial worries can spill over into other areas of life, including work. While this type of stress can adversely affect the health and well-being of individuals and their families, it can also hinder employees’ happiness, engagement, and productivity at their jobs. Therefore, it’s in employers’ best interest...

Important 2019 Year-End Tasks: HR and Payroll, Including New Form W-4

Written on December 13, 2019. Posted in Uncategorized.

by Lisa Calick and Laura Melville The end of the year marks an ideal time for employers to take inventory and prepare for the transition to the New Year. As 2019 comes to an end, we put together this checklist to help make sure you are prepared and suggest taking the following action steps: Have your employees review their personal information, including name, address and social security number, and make any updates before Form W-2s are prepared; Review your records and determine...

A Breakdown of the Opportunity Zones Program as the Deadline for Investment Nears

Written on December 5, 2019. Posted in Real Estate.

Interview with Alex Narcise and Stephanie Hughes The Opportunity Zones program, created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, offers private equity firms, family offices, and asset managers the chance to make an investment with up to 100% exemption of capital gains taxes. The deadline, however, is fast approaching: December 31, 2019. In this post, we’ll provide a breakdown of the program, as well as lay out the possible advantages and disadvantages of investment. Let’s dive in. What...

A message to CEOs: When a CFO joins or leaves your company, it’s an ideal time to conduct a Business Process Review

Written on November 7, 2019. Posted in Advisory Services, General Business.

by Paul Ursich A CFO entry or exit event, especially when it comes to mid-sized companies, is often an opportune time to conduct a Business Process Review. When a mid-sized company decides to bring on a CFO, it’s an indication of an important company life cycle shift. Making the investment into this critical CFO role is a major one. It’s the perfect time to conduct a Business Process Review to provide valuable insight into this new hire. An immediate and independent review can drastically...

New HRA Option for Businesses Beginning January 1, 2020

Written on October 25, 2019. Posted in Human Resources.

by Lisa Calick, SPHR Businesses that have struggled with wanting to provide an alternative to a group health plan for their employees will now have a new option to consider with an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA), which will be available beginning January 1, 2020. This benefit allows employers to reimburse employees tax-free for health insurance coverage bought on the individual market, thus allowing companies to provide benefits without having to offer...

NJ Employment Law Update: Salary History Ban

Written on October 2, 2019. Posted in Human Resources.

In yet another step toward strengthening equal pay protections among workers, New Jersey joins the list of states that will now prohibit companies from asking prospective employees about their salary history. The new law, which will take effect in January 2020, makes it illegal for employers to ask about an applicant’s salary, commission or benefits history during the hiring process. Companies may only consider this information if voluntarily offered by the applicant without coercion,...

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