Expert Compliance Insights & Tips for Businesses

IRS Says PPE Qualifies as Medical Expenses

IRS: Personal Protective Equipment Considered Qualified Medical Expenses

March 29, 2021

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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that it considers personal protective equipment (PPE) purchases as qualified medical expenses. Namely, examples of PPE include masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. These items are medical care under Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The new guidance allows individuals to seek reimbursement for those items under Flexi...

New Guidance on Employee Retention Credit

March 23, 2021

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On March 18th, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated information on its Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The ERC issues a refundable tax credit to eligible employers who have retained employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the IRS released a new notice covering health and dependent care assistance programs. Updates to the Employee Retention Credit Web Page As me...

Labor Department Announces Proposed Delay to Prevailing Wage Rule

March 23, 2021

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On March 22nd, 2021, the Labor Department proposed an 18-month delay to the effective date of a prevailing wage rule. The affected Final Rule focuses on calculating prevailing wages of certain immigrants and non-immigrant workers. The recent announcement follows the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) March proposal to rescind two other wage-and-hour-related final rules. Background of Original Final...

PPP Loan Forgiveness May Hinge on Mandatory OSHA Compliance

PPP Loan Forgiveness & OSHA Compliance

March 22, 2021

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In January 2021, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) revised the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including PPP loan forgiveness. Later, in February, the Small Business Administration (SBA), which administers PPP loans, issued an interim final rule, addressing PPP requirements. Many employers may not know that PPP loan forgiveness provisions require the business to certify thei...

New OSHA Program Addresses COVID-Related Workplace Safety

OSHA Launches COVID-Related Workplace Safety Program

March 17, 2021

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On March 12th, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new program aimed towards improving COVID-related workplace safety. OSHA created the National Emphasis Program (NEP) in response to an Executive Order issued by President Joseph Biden in January. Overview of the NEP After announcing the COVID-related workplace safety NEP, OSHA stated that the majority of...

Biden COVID-19 Relief Package on Track to Become Law

Biden COVID Relief Package Advancing

March 17, 2021

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Updated March 17th, 2021 – (Originally Posted March 8th, 2021). On March 11th, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the COVID-19 relief package known as the American Rescue Plan Act. With the President’s final approval, the $1.9 trillion package has now become law. Congress had been working to adopt a new COVID-19 relief package before certain current benefits expired on March 14th, 2021. ...

The DOL Announced Plans to Rescind Two Recent Final Rules

Department of Labor Proposes to Rescind Two Recent Final Rules

March 15, 2021

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On March 11th, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced proposals to rescind two recent final rules. These are the Independent Contractor and Joint Employer Rules. According to the DOL, these recent final rules significantly weaken protections afforded to workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). To make changes to the recent final rules, the DOL released Notices for Proposed...

Comment Period Extended for Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rule Changes

March 12, 2021

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The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced a comment period extension for proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the OCR extended the public comment period another 45 days. The comment period allows for a public review of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This NPRM would modify the Health Insurance Portability and Ac...

CDC Issues New Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

CDC Issues Guidance for Fully Vaccinated

March 9, 2021

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On March 8th, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This release follows recent CDC guidance on masks, vaccines, and quarantines. CDC Definition of Fully Vaccinated According to the CDC, an individual becomes “fully vaccinated” when the following has occurred: 2 weeks has passed after their second d...

Federal Contractor Audit Scheduling List Amended for Fiscal Year 2020

March 5, 2021

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On March 2nd, 2021, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) amended its Fiscal Year 2020 audit scheduling list. Known as the Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL), the list identifies specific contractors who will be receiving audit scheduling letters. Before the recent amendment, the CSAL included 200 construction contractors and 2,200 supply and service contractors...

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