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Week of March 20, 2009 • Issue No. 037
This Week in the iNews:
▲ LUNCH & LEARN SERIES– FINANCIAL PLANNING IN TODAYS ENVIRONMENT
▲ IRS RELEASES INFORMATION TO HELP EMPLOYERS CLAIM COBRA MEDICAL COVERAGE CREDIT ON PAYROLL TAX FORM
▲ FEDERAL AND MICHIGAN BUSINESS TAX ESTIMATES DUE BY APRIL 15TH
▲ WANT OR NEED A BUSINESS VALUATION IN 2009 – REASON 6 OF 9
▲ LUNCH & LEARN SERIES – MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Please join us on Thursday, March 19, 2009 for the second installment of our 2009 Lunch & Learn Series Program – Financial Planning in Today’s Environment from a CPA’s Perspective. Each program will begin at noon and end around 1:00 p.m. Lunch and parking will be provided.
Please contact Michelle Ripley at mripley@pmcpa.com or at 616.774.9004 for your reservation for any of the programs.
A few seats are left. Don’t miss out!
▲ IRS Releases Information to Help Employers Claim COBRA Medical Coverage Credit on Payroll Tax Form
The Internal Revenue Service today released new detailed information that will help employers claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for their former employees.
The IRS unveiled new information on it's Web site, IRS.gov, that includes an extensive set of questions and answers for employers. In addition, the Web site contains a revised version of the quarterly payroll tax return that employers will use to claim credit for the COBRA medical premiums they pay for their former employees.
Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, will also be sent to about 2 million employers in mid-March. The form is used to claim the new COBRA premium assistance payments credit, beginning with the first quarter of 2009.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which became law last week, includes changes to the health benefit provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly referred to as COBRA. The new law will affect former employees and their families, employers and others involved in providing COBRA coverage.
Under the new law, eligible former employees, enrolled in their employer’s health plan at the time they lost their jobs, are required to pay only 35 percent of the cost of COBRA coverage. Employers must treat the 35 percent payment by eligible former employees as full payment, but the employers are entitled to a credit for the other 65 percent of the COBRA cost on their payroll tax return.
Employers must maintain supporting documentation for the credit claimed. This includes:
COBRA provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. COBRA generally covers health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more full and part-time employees. It also covers employee organizations or federal, state or local governments. It does not apply to churches and certain religious organizations. The new COBRA subsidy provisions also apply to insurers required to offer continuation coverage under state law similar to the federal COBRA.
More information about COBRA payments and the new law is available on www.dol.gov
▲Federal Income and Michigan Business Tax Estimated Tax Payments Due By April 15th for Some Corporations and Exempt Organizations
Corporations and certain exempt organizations are required to make federal estimated tax payments the 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th months of the corporation's or exempt organization's tax year. Estimated payments are due by the 15th of the month, or the next business date if the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.
Corporations and certain exempt organizations are required to make Michigan Business Tax estimated tax payments the 4th, 7th, and 10th months of the corporation's or exempt organization's tax year and the month after their tax year ends. Estimated payments are due by the 15th of the month, or the next business date if the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.
▲ WANT OR NEED A BUSINESS VALUATION IN 2009 REASON 6 OF 9
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal admission of the inability of an individual or company’s ability to meet and pay their liabilities. Therefore knowing the bankruptcy value of your business and its assets is critical to the restructuring process and are influential to maintaining the confidence of your creditors’ committee or trustee.
If you are planning for or find yourself in this type of situation, please contact Les Prangley, CPA, CVA to see if a business valuation is needed or required at 616.774.9004 or lprangley@pmcpa.com.