The proposed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act includes some very concerning changes to the tax treatment of equity-based awards granted to U.S. taxpayers. Please review our alert on these changes. We will monitor the proposed bill closely so please check back frequently. Best regards, Barbara
We know we are not supposed to get too excited about a proposed tax bill, but The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the amended version of which was released by the House on November 3, 2017, is no ordinary tax bill. Not only does it propose sweeping changes to the taxation of executive compensation and employee benefits, it aims to be effective as of January 1, 2018 – which means limited time to mobilize against…
The IRS has issued guidance in Notice 2017-46 (the “Notice”) relaxing the rules applicable to U.S. financial institutions that require the collection of foreign taxpayer identification numbers (Foreign TINs) from U.S. nonresident aliens. Under anticipated amendments to temporary regulations that are described in the Notice, withholding agents will be required to collect a Foreign TIN and date of birth (in the case of an individual account holder) on a foreign person’s beneficial owner withholding certificate (e.g., a…
When granting equity awards, one of the most important questions is the tax effect of such awards. Granting awards that have a negative tax impact on the employee or the company is counter-productive and should lead companies to consider other ways to incentivize their employees. On the other hand, should companies maximize the availability of favorable tax treatment for equity awards in certain countries? This is not an easy question to answer. Favorable Tax Treatment…
As most employers are aware, the obligation to report non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) that complies with Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 409A is currently suspended, but non-compliant NQDC is required to be reported in Box 12 of an employee’s Form W-2. Employers should also be aware of the additional Form W-2 reporting requirements that may apply to NQDC, including equity awards that are considered NQDC, such as deferred restricted stock units: the obligation to report…
On April 21, 2017, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 13789, which instructed the IRS to review all “significant tax regulations” issued on or after January 1, 2016 to identify as targets for modification, rescission or delayed effectiveness any regulations that (i) impose an undue financial burden on U.S. taxpayers; (ii) add undue complexity to the Federal tax laws; or (iii) exceed the statutory authority of the IRS. Having completed this review, earlier this month,…
In a recent blog post, we discussed the tax withholding and reporting complexities that can arise when employees earn equity or deferred compensation while working in more than one state. Therefore, it is timely to report on an effort at the federal level to harmonize threshold tax requirements in multi-state employment scenarios. New 30-Day Rule On June 20, 2017, the “Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2017” (H.R. 1393) passed the House of…
Employees today are increasingly mobile and companies that grant equity or have deferred compensation programs are faced with complex withholding and reporting requirements in the various states. Employees who move between states before a taxable event occurs with respect to their equity or deferred compensation are often subject to tax in both their state of residence and states where they provided services, but no longer reside (i.e., states where they are considered a nonresident). States…
The IRS recently issued guidance in Rev. Proc. 2017-28 addressing special rules that apply when employers seek a refund of FICA (social security and Medicare) taxes. This new guidance serves as a reminder to employers that special processes should be followed when seeking a refund of FICA taxes. Background As background, recall that FICA taxes are imposed on both the employer and the employee — half is paid directly by the employer and the other…
It is almost the end of the calendar year, and in addition to wrapping up gifts and holiday parties, it is time for multinational companies to consider the necessary tax and regulatory filings for global stock plans triggered by the close of 2016. As you consider the steps your company may need to take to start the new year right, please see our Global Equity Services Year-End / Annual Equity Awards Filing Chart, which contains…