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Survey Highlights Accounting Industry's Response to SBA Paycheck Protection Program

… the firms surveyed reported advising and assisting clients with gathering the documentation necessary to prepare the PPP loan application. Eighty-five (85%) reported assisting clients with the required average monthly payroll calculation required for the application. Less than half (46%) reported assisting clients with preparing the actual loan application. Fee arrangements for PPP-related services vary based on the specific advisory services provided. Time and materials arrangements were common to all firms surveyed. Only 25% of firms reported the use of fixed fee arrangements. Fifteen percent (15%) of the firms indicated that in certain instances, no fees were charged for …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/survey-highlights-accounting-industrys-response-to-sba-paycheck-protection-program/

IRS Relaxes Section 125 Election Change Rules, Expands Grace Periods and Carryovers

… will not cause an HDHP to fail to be an HDHP, nor would it render someone ineligible to contribute to an HSA. For example an otherwise eligible individual with coverage under an HDHP, who also received coverage beginning February 15, 2020, for telehealth and other remote care services under an arrangement that is not an HDHP before satisfying the HDHP deductible, will not be disqualified from contributing to an HSA during 2020. Conclusion These continue to be trying times, but the IRS remains committed to helping employers and employees who are grappling with difficult plan coverage and administrative matters during …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/irs-relaxes-section-125-election-change-rules/

Feds Extend Deadlines for Certain Plan Filings

… or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. The guidance is consistent with previous IRS announcements that provided similar taxpayer relief in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The DOL subsequently issued Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01 which confirmed that Form M-1 filings ‒ for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) ‒ also get extended filing relief for the same period as the IRS Form 5500.  The regular deadline for annual Form M-1 filings is March 1, with an automatic 60-day extension available if timely requested. Since that extended deadline falls within the relief window, timely extended 2019 …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/feds-extend-deadlines-for-certain-plan-filings/

Departments Release More FAQ to Address Leaves Under FFCRA

… compensation arrangement (e.g., piece rate) or who received other types of payments (e.g., commissions or tips), might have a fluctuating average rate week to week, so the Departments have stated that an employer may calculate the correct average regular rate for these employees as follows: Compute the employee’s non-excludable remuneration for each full workweek during the six-month period. Notably, commissions and piece-rate pay counts towards this amount. Tips, however, count only to the extent that an employer applies them towards minimum wage obligations (i.e., the employer takes a tip credit). Overtime premiums …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/departments-release-more-faq-to-address-leaves-under-ffcra/

Lawyers' Professional Liability Report

… claim scenario. Clients create a team of lawyers from several outside law firms working with designated in-house lawyers and with other non-law firm service providers (sometimes including project managers, accountants, legal process outsourcers, legal staffing firms) to provide legal services for particular projects. Claims arising out of these arrangements lack centralized and documented supervision, management of deadlines and overall accountability, which results in the implication of most law firms involved. Claims seek to hold the law firms responsible for all key decisions impacting legal representation. Underwriters continue to attribute these “causes” to an erosion of disciplined execution of …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/lawyers-professional-liability-report/

What Will COVID-19 Do to Healthcare as We Know It?

… very strict coverage rules. If the Republicans manage to hang on, healthcare responsibility is going to be pushed more to the individuals as signaled by the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) regulations, which allow employers to shift healthcare to a defined-contribution benefit. No longer will employers be forced to absorb cost increases, which have become even less budget-able with this pandemic. These regulations are complex and force individuals onto the generally undesirable benefits available on individual exchanges, but for some employers and some segments of the population, this option will be appealing. Although our actuarial team …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/what-will-covid-19-do-to-healthcare-as-we-know-it/

Covering Coronavirus: Risk Considerations Volume 1, Issue 7

… may be useful in addressing some of these issues. Available in English, Spanish and Bilingual, they are not only an immediate help, but can be displayed or distributed once post-pandemic work practices resume to encourage employees to continue to exhibit safe and healthy behaviors. The Training & Awareness team can arrange printing and distribution for company-wide usage, and can help companies go further, creating custom videos and implementing other strategies proven to shift behavior through a positive, cohesive learning process that leads to engagement and goal/objective alignment. Reach out to an EPIC broker to request any of these …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/covering-coronavirus-risk-considerations-volume-1-issue-7/

Claim Data and Trends

… not make it right or safe. Common sense is more important than a clever parsing of the tax code. Saying “no” to a client or perspective client is ok when you are presented with an “opportunity” in these situations. We have remained open for business since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States as we transitioned quickly to a 100% remote worker arrangement in early March. Please contact Jay Moroney and Owen Bailitz for assistance with risk management concerns or your account team with policy and coverage questions. [1] The sordid tale of Aequitas Management …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/claim-data-and-trends/