Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE)
President Obama signed into law the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE), an economic stimulus plan that contains $15 billion dollars in new incentives for businesses, which hire unemployed workers in 2010.
Two key provisions that may affect you:
- Eliminating the current 6.2 percent employer Social Security tax for eligible new hires
- A $1,000 business tax credit for keeping eligible employees for at least 52 consecutive weeks
This legislation 
makes significant changes that go beyond payroll processing – your business may be affected in numerous ways. To help determine the impact of this new legislation, call our office to receive a free consultation.
In addition, The HIRE Act is another reminder why so many clients prefer to have their CPA’s or accountants prepare their payroll. With over 25 years of experience in helping small business such as yours, we provide solutions that go beyond payroll processing. Emil Estafanous, CPA has processes in place to monitor and react to the changing legislative landscape and support the ongoing needs of your business.
It would be to your advantage to contact me and schedule an appointment so we can review how you can benefit from this new law.
Check Withholding to Avoid a Tax Surprise
With 2009 nearly half over, the Internal Revenue Service reminds individual taxpayers there is no better time to check their 2009 federal income tax withholding levels to make sure they do not face any surprises when returns are due next spring.
The Making Work Pay Credit lowered tax withholding rates this year for 120 million American households. However, particular taxpayers who fall into any of the following groups should review their tax withholding rates to ensure enough tax is withheld: multiple job holders, families in which both spouses work, workers who can be claimed as dependents by other taxpayers and pensioners.
Failure to adjust your withholding could result in potentially smaller refunds or may cause you to owe tax rather than receive a refund next year. So far in 2009, the average refund amount is $2,675 and 79 percent of all returns received a refund.
Because retirees typically have withholding from their pension payments, pension plan administrators or pension payors should be aware of the optional adjustment procedure for pension withholding announced in Notice 1036-P, Additional Withholding for Pensions for 2009.
Social security beneficiaries, supplemental security income recipients, disabled veterans and railroad retirees that receive this year’s one-time $250 economic recovery payment should be aware that the Making Work Pay credit will be reduced by the $250 payment amount. They may also want to review their withholding.
The IRS withholding calculator on IRS.gov can help a taxpayer compute the proper tax withholding. The worksheets in Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Withholding?, can also be used to do the calculation. If the result suggests an adjustment is necessary, the taxpayer should submit a new Form W-4, Withholding Allowance Certificate, to his or her employer or adjust the amount of quarterly tax paid.
In addition, the IRS reminds unemployed workers that the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits they receive during 2009 are tax-free for federal income tax purposes. People who expect to receive more than that should consider having tax withheld from their benefit payments in excess of $2,400. Use Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, or the equivalent form provided by the payer to request withholding to begin or end.
If you have additional questions or concerns please contact me at 562-868-6333 or email emil@mycpaweb.com and we will be glad to assist you.
Taxpayers should visit IRS.gov for more information about how to adjust federal income tax withholding. The Web site also has details on various tax incentives in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as well as downloadable forms and publications. Free tax forms and publications are also available by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
