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Relief on Substantial Presence and Treaty Day-Count Tests.

On May 30th, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2020-20 which provides non-U.S. individuals present in the U.S. some limited relief from the day-count tests for U.S. tax residency and for eligibility for certain treaty benefits.  The relief comes in the form of the “COVID-19 Medical Condition Travel Exception”.  The name of the exception is a misnomer because individuals need not have had any medical condition (including the COVID-19 virus) to claim its benefits.
Continue Reading IRS Provides Some Relief to Offset COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the “CARES Act” to provide nearly 2 trillion dollars in aid and relief to individuals, businesses, and other entities in the wake of the spread of COVID-19.  Included in the CARES Act are tax and loan provisions intended to provide financial relief to people and businesses suffering as a result of the disease.

The following summarizes certain key tax-related provisions in the CARES Act.
Continue Reading The CARES ACT – Tax Relief

As part of the federal government’s efforts to soften the economic effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, on Wednesday the IRS issued Notice 2020-17 announcing that federal income tax payments for the 2019 tax year otherwise due on April 15th may be postponed until July  15th 2020 without incurring interest or penalties on the amount due.  In addition, the Notice also postponed to July 15th the due date for quarterly estimated federal income tax payments otherwise due on April 15th.  Earlier statements by government officials had not indicated that the due date for quarterly estimated tax payments would also be extended.
Continue Reading Updated: Treasury and IRS Extend Time to both File and Pay Federal Income Taxes to July 15th; States Taking Their Own Approaches on Income and Similar Taxes

On December 2, 2019, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that in response to a digital services tax law passed in France, it would be retaliating with stringent tariffs on luxury products coming from France. The potential tariffs could target up to $2.4 billion worth of French imports into the United States, with duties as high as 100%.[1]
Continue Reading Potential Impact of U.S.-France Trade Tension on U.S. Imports of French Products and Luxury Goods