The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), a roughly $2 trillion coronavirus response bill signed into law yesterday, is intended to provide widespread emergency relief for Americans and the country’s economy. In addition to its benefits for individuals, the bill provides aid for small businesses, large corporations, hospitals and public health agencies, and state and local governments. Among its provisions for small businesses are emergency grants and a forgivable loan program for companies with 500 or...

Rebates Tax Relief to U.S. Individual Taxpayers Recovery Rebates The CARES Act provides cash to eligible individuals and families through a process known as “recovery rebates.” The rebate amount for individual taxpayers is $1,200 and married couples filing jointly will receive a maximum of $2,400. There is also an additional rebate of $500 for each child under the age of 17 who qualifies for the tax credit. Individuals with no income or who have income from non-taxable sources are also eligible...

Unprepared for the unimaginable – temporary disruption COVID-19 has forced millions of people in the US alone out of work already. Many millions still in work now do so from home, or try to, often for the first time. Given how highly unusual this situation is and the very real and understandable fear and uncertainty it carries with it, it isn’t surprising that even with a decent level of organization, goodwill and a proper setup, working from home is not...

The President has stated that “The cure can’t be worse than the problem."  He said that he would like to start opening up the country to business as soon as Easter Sunday. However, the virus has already spread to all 50 states. The current thinking is to designate areas based on risk so that areas where Covid-19 has not infected too many people (how much is too many?) could be phased in and businesses and manufacturing can restart.  This idea,...

Please see below an update to the corporate tax issues for European businesses in response to COVID-19. 1. Federal - Calendar 2019 Tax Filings Originally Due April 15 Can Now be Filed by July 15 2. 2019 Payment Deadline for 2019 Extended to July 15 3. 1st Quarter Payments Due April 15 Pushed to July 15 4. 2nd Quarter Payments Due June 15th have NOT been Extended 5. New York State and City Follow Federal Deadlines 6. Other States Have Made Similar Accommodations 7. Section 165(i)...

The global COVID-19 crisis is causing sudden and unprecedented disruption. It’s impossible to predict the total impact – but these are turbulent and trying times, and dramatic action and resiliency will be required to navigate this together. People, infrastructure, small and large businesses, and economies are all being affected. With the immediate well-being and health of people rightfully being top priority, many retail and other businesses are functioning at reduced capacity or as online-only operations. While some retailers have...

On March 18, President Donald Trump issued an executive order finding that the “health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19, including personal protective equipment and ventilators” meet certain criteria set forth in the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (DPA). In the executive order, the president also delegated authority under the DPA to the Secretary of Health and Human Services “to determine, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the heads of...

On March 23, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced it will begin accepting exclusion requests from the Section 301 tariffs on goods manufactured in China for medical-care products needed to address the COVID-19 outbreak. The exclusion requests are to be submitted to regulations.gov. No specific forms or formats are required.  Though USTR asks that all requests be submitted as soon as possible, the process will be open until June 25, 2020.  Any product included in any of the previous...