IRS Issues Guidance on Payroll Tax Deferment Presidential Order

Deferred taxes must be recouped between Jan. 1 and Apr. 30, 2021

-On Aug. 8, 2020, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Department of Treasury (the Department) to defer collecting certain payroll taxes from wages earned between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. 

-On Aug. 28, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2020-65 (the Notice) to provide guidance for affected employers. Employer participation in these deferrals is permitted, but not required. 

Eligibility for Deferred Payroll Taxes The Notice releases employers from their obligation to collect and pay payroll Social Security taxes for individuals who receive applicable wages, defined as compensation that is less than $4,000 for a biweekly pay period, or “the equivalent threshold amount with respect to other pay periods.” 

Employers must determine whether applicable wages exist every pay period between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. 

Recoupment of Payroll Taxes The Notice informs employers that any taxes deferred between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will need to be collected and remitted to the IRS between Jan. 1 and Apr. 30, 2021, unless the Department can find an avenue to eliminate the obligation to pay the deferred taxes. Interest, penalties and additions to tax will begin to accrue on May 1, 2021, for any unpaid deferred taxes. 

Employers will need to pay these deferred taxes in addition to collecting and remitting the taxes that regularly become due during the Jan. 1 to Apr. 30 pay period.  The Notice also explains that employers will be allowed to make arrangements with affected employees to collect deferred taxes in 2021.

Source: Zywave