2020 Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for

Brinker Simpson was recently named as one of the 2020 Accounting Today’s Best Accounting Firms to Work for. Accounting Today has partnered with Best Companies Group to identify companies that have excelled in creating quality workplaces for employees.

With the Presidential election 9 weeks away, we prepared the following guideline to illustrate where each of the candidates stand on certain tax laws. Biden’s proposed changes would repeal different aspects of Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Please note, these are proposed changes and Congress often makes the final decision.

Business clients often ask us: Should we outsource our accounting needs? What exactly are the benefits we can expect?

Sadly, it did not take long for scammers to take advantage of the programs being offered to help individuals and businesses through this current situation. Don't let your guard down! Remember, the IRS and banks will not contact you for bank account information or to verify social security numbers or information on your tax return. Also, you should not pay anyone a fee to process your stimulus check. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is receiving reports of potential scams, warning on their website.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides for an emergency advance of $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profit organizations affected by COVID-19. In order to receive the advance, you must apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and request the advance at the end of the application process. The loan advance funds will not have to be repaid even if the EIDL application is denied. The EIDLs are up to $2 Million with terms up to 30 years and interest rates of 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profits. EIDLs requesting funds up to $200,000 can be approved without a personal guarantee and do not require real estate as collateral.

As mentioned in our previous email and blog post, on Friday President Trump signed a $2 trillion stimulus package. In a move designed to keep small businesses afloat, the CARES Act allocates $349 billion to loans the Paycheck Protection Program loans under the Small Business Administration. We provided details on the Program in a previous post.

Lenders are working out the final details with the Small Business Administration (SBA), but you can take steps now to prepare for the application process to avoid delays. Applications may be ready to be processed as early as next week. We suggest that you contact your bank and ask if they are qualified SBA 7(a) lenders and participating in the Payback Protection Program. Inform them of your interest in applying and ask how you can prepare. Please feel free to reach out to our team with questions.

President Trump has signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act just a few hours after the House of Representative passed the legislation. The historic $2 trillion economic recovery package includes direct payments to individuals, significantly expanded unemployment coverage, business relief through payroll credits and attractive SBA funding options, and significant resources for health care facilities in dire need of relief.

Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act

As of today, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been passed by the Senate. As of this writing, the CARES Act still requires approval from the House and the President’s signature before becoming law. Included in this Act is the authorization of $349 billion of federally guaranteed loans to qualifying small and medium sized businesses through the expansion of the SBA 7(a) with the “Paycheck Protection Program.” The Senate debated the legislation before it was approved late last night and the House is expected to vote on it tomorrow.

Pennsylvania COVID-19 Working Capital Access Loan Information

Program guidelines for CWCA, a program supplying working capital to businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, were approved by the PIDA (PA Industrial Development Authority) Board on March 23, 2020. Please contact your county’s Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) for where to submit the application. Some counties are setup to receive applications.
A list of county CEDO organizations can be found here: https://dced.pa.gov/cedo/

The White House and congressional leaders from both parties reached a $2 trillion stimulus deal early Wednesday that will include direct payments to most Americans and an unprecedented amount of money to small businesses that have been pushed to the brink.