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This guide explores the broad-ranging financial assistance offered to individuals under Congress’ $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act—including direct tax rebates of up to $1,200 per person, student-loan repayment deferrals, and protection for those who are temporarily unable to pay their rent or mortgage.
On June 3, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA) of 2020 was signed into law to give borrowers additional time and flexibility to use the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan proceeds. Please refer to this link for updates on the PPP program as of June 3, 2020.
Congress’ $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes an array of financial assistance for individuals affected by the COVID-19 crisis. This Guide is a recap of the second episode of our three-webinar series on the CARES Act, which explored how this massive relief package will bring direct tax rebates of up to $1,200 per person and protections for those who are temporarily unable to pay their rent or mortgage.
Jeremiah Barlow, Head of Family Wealth Services at Mercer Advisors, and Kara Duckworth, our Managing Director of Client Experience, also spelled out the CARES Act’s student-loan repayment deferral option, added incentives for charitable giving, and increased unemployment compensation. We’ve summarized the highlights from their April 8 webinar below. You can also replay the presentation along with our other CARES Act webinars in the Mercer Advisors Resource Center.
Components of the CARES Act package aimed at helping individual Americans:
Also, note that the Federal tax deadline has been extended. 2019 income tax returns and payments are now due July 15 instead of the usual April 15 deadline. For individuals and businesses that need to pay 2020 estimated taxes, the first quarterly installment deadline is extended until at least June 15.
It’s a one-time tax rebate, classified as a credit against your 2020 federal income tax liability. The rebate will not be counted as taxable income.
If you filed an income tax return for 2018 or 2019, you should receive this rebate.
It depends on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for either 2019, if you’ve already filed a return this year, or for 2018. Here is a breakdown:
If your AGI is higher than these thresholds, the rebate amounts decrease by $50 for every additional $1,000 of income reported on your tax return. It phases out entirely at $99,000 for single taxpayers with no children and $198,000 for joint taxpayers with no children.
The Tax Foundation, an independent tax policy nonprofit, has posted an interactive CARES Act Rebate Calculator at https://taxfoundation.org/federal-coronavirus-relief-bill-cares-act/#1.
According to the Tax Foundation website, “taxpayers eligible for a larger rebate based on 2020 income will receive it in the 2020 tax season. Taxpayers with higher incomes in 2020 will see the overpayment associated with their rebate forgiven.”
“For example, a single taxpayer with $100,000 in 2019 income would not receive an advance rebate but would receive the $1,200 credit on their 2020 return if their income for the year fell below the phaseout. On the other hand, a single taxpayer with $35,000 in income receives a $1,200 advance rebate but would not have to pay the rebate back on the 2020 return if they make $100,000 this year.”
The CARES Act deferral applies only to the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and direct Federal Perkins loans owned by the U.S. Department of Education. However, student-loan borrowers who are not eligible for the CARES Act deferral should still contact their lender to inquire about other deferral options that may be offered.
Qualifying loan payments are deferred from March 13, 2020 – September 30, 2020. You will need to change any automatic payments that may be scheduled.
Deferral will have no impact on your credit score, and no interest will accrue on the loan amount during this time. Involuntary debt collections are also suspended through September 30, 2020. Also, if you already have delinquent student loans, your 2019 tax refund will come to you instead of being applied toward delinquent loan payments if you file your tax return before the end of the deferral period.
As another perk of the CARES Act, employers that offer tuition reimbursement can now also apply that benefit—up to a combined $5,250 total—toward an employee’s student loan debt through the end of 2020.
If you can afford to do so comfortably, the full amount of any payments made between now and September 30, 2020 will be credited toward your loan principal. That means you’ll be able to pay off the loan faster and reduce the amount of interest charged.
Previously, the maximum allowable federal income tax deduction for cash donations to a public charity was 60% of the taxpayer’s AGI. Congress raised that allowable deduction to 100% of AGI to encourage more support for nonprofits that are involved in COVID-19 crisis relief efforts. However, the IRS’ previously established deduction limits still apply for charitable donations to private foundations and donor-advised funds.
You can claim a tax deduction of up to $300 in 2020 for contributions to a qualifying charity or nonprofit, regardless of whether you itemize your deductions or choose to file a standard (non-itemized) federal income tax return.
Homeowners with mortgages backed by the federal programs commonly known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac cannot be foreclosed upon for at least 60 days following the CARES Act passage. Homeowners can also request forbearance on mortgage payments for at least 180 days by contacting their lender. The CARES Act also imposed a halt of at least 120 days on eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent against renters living in single-family and multifamily properties with federally backed mortgages.
Some other lenders, as well as a number of states, are providing similar relief options. Check with your loan servicer and state housing authority for details.
Your financial advisor and tax preparer can help you determine which CARES Act assistance options you qualify to receive. They can also help you assemble the necessary documents and answer questions about how to apply for benefits.
Mercer Advisors is posting frequent updates about the CARES Act and other coronavirus-related topics on our “Insights for Navigating Recent Events” Resource Center: https://insight.merceradvisors.com/Coronavirus-Markets-Resource-Center.
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