Source: https://askfrost.com/internal-revenue-code-irc-139-qualified-disaster-relief-payments/
Timestamp: 2020-07-04 14:16:24
Document Index: 289881861

Matched Legal Cases: ['§139', '§139', '§139', '§139', '§139', '§139', '§139']

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §139 Qualified Disaster Relief Payments · Frost Law | AskFrost.com
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §139 Qualified Disaster Relief Payments
Employers may now be able to immediately provide Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §139 qualified disaster relief payments. On March 13, 2020, the Coronavirus National Emergency declaration was made by President Trump under Section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act). This declaration arguably positions employers under the scope of IRC §139—potentially providing much needed relief to employers and employees.
Specifically, employers may be able to reimburse non-insured, non-wage replacement benefits that they reasonably believe result from the COVID-19 pandemic. Such expenses are likely numerous and could pertain to expenses such as:
Childcare and/or tutoring resulting from school closings
Increased home expenses incurred from telecommuting (e.g., home office set-up, internet, office equipment)
Moreover, in the IRC §139 context, employees are usually not even burdened by a substantiation requirement regarding claimed expenses.
Significantly, employees receiving IRC §139 qualified disaster relief payments are not subject to federal tax on those payments, and the payments are fully deductible by the employer. Generally, state tax treatment of IRC §139 qualified disaster relief payments conforms to federal treatment.
This is a relatively obscure code section—but it has incredible potential to help employers and employees.
This analysis is not legal advice. It is provided for informational purposes only. This analysis does not constitute legal advice and is being provided on an informational basis only. For advice about whether and how you or your business can benefit from this topic, please contact your legal counsel.
Categories: Business Law, Non-Video, Tax Law