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National Labor Relations Board

The Summary of NLRB decisions for the week of March 29 – April 2, 2021 is now available on the NLRB’s website.  The summary can be accessed by clicking the links below.  https://www.nlrb.gov/cases-decisions/weekly-summaries-decisions/summary-of-nlrb-decisions-for-week-of-march-29-april-2 Questions? Contact Us Issue Number:    N-2021-24 Inside This Issue Notice 2021-24 amplifies the guidance in Notice 2020-22, 2020-17 I.R.B. 664, which provides for penalty relief under section 6656 of the Code for an employer’s failure to timely deposit Employment Taxes with the IRS.  This notice provides relief from section 6656 for employers required to pay qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages, and qualified health plan expenses allocable to these wages, mandated by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, as amended by the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (American Rescue Plan Act).  This notice also provides relief from section 6656 for certain employers subject to a full or partial closure order due to COVID-19 or experiencing a statutorily specified decline in business under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, as amended by the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act.  Finally, this notice provides relief from section 6656 for certain employers for which COBRA continuation coverage premiums were not paid by assistance eligible individuals for such coverage by reason of section 9501(a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan Act.  This relief ensures that such employers may pay qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages, qualified wages, and COBRA continuation coverage premiums using Employment Taxes that would otherwise be required to be deposited without incurring a failure to deposit penalty. Notice 2021-24 will be in IRB: 2021-18, dated 05/03/2021. IRS, Treasury disburse 2 million more Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan; VA beneficiaries bring total to approximately 159 million as payments continue WASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced they are disbursing nearly 2 million payments in the fifth batch of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan. Today’s announcement brings the total disbursed so far to approximately 159 million payments, with a total value of more than $376 billion, since these payments began rolling out to Americans in batches as announced on March 12.  The fifth batch of payments began processing on Friday, April 9, with an official payment date of April 14, with some people receiving direct payments in their accounts earlier as provisional or pending deposits. Here is additional information on this batch of payments: In total, this batch includes nearly 2 million payments with a value of more than $3.4 billion. More than 320,000 payments, with a total value of $450 million, went to Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments but who don’t normally file a tax return and didn’t use the Non-Filers tool last year. Nearly 850,000 payments, with a total value of nearly $1.6 billion, went to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have information to issue an Economic Impact Payment but who recently filed a tax return.  This batch also includes additional ongoing supplemental payments for people who earlier this year received payments based on their 2019 tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their recently processed 2020 tax returns. This batch included more than 700,000 million of these “plus-up” payments, with a total value of more than $1.2 billion. Another 72,000 payments went to Social Security beneficiaries who didn’t file a 2020 or 2019 tax return and didn’t use the Non-Filers tool last year. Overall, this fifth batch of payments contains nearly 1.2 million direct deposit payments (with a total value of just under $2 billion) and nearly 800,000 paper check payments (with a total value of over $1.4 billion). Additional information is available on the first four batches of Economic Impact Payments from the American Rescue Plan, which began processing on April 2, March 26, March 19 and March 12. A larger percentage of payments was made electronically during this round of payments than during previous rounds.  This accelerated the delivery of payments to millions of American families whose payments would otherwise have been sent by mail. Over 95% of all Social Security beneficiaries have been paid electronically during this round of payments, compared to 70% in the first round and 72% in the second round. The IRS will continue to make Economic Impact Payments on a weekly basis.  Ongoing payments will be sent to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have information to issue a payment but who recently filed a tax return, as well to people who qualify for “plus-up” payments. Special reminder for those who don't normally file a tax return Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to urge people who don’t normally file a tax return and haven’t received Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the benefits they’re entitled to under the law, including tax credits such as the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.  Filing a 2020 tax return will also assist the IRS in determining whether someone is eligible for an advance payment of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which will begin to be disbursed this summer. For example, some federal benefits recipients may need to file a 2020 tax return – even if they don't usually file – to provide information the IRS needs to send payments for a qualifying dependent. Eligible individuals in this group should file a 2020 tax return as quickly as possible to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying dependents. People who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal benefits may qualify for these Economic Impact Payments. This includes those experiencing homelessness, the rural poor, and others. Individuals who didn't get a first or second round Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, but they’ll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return Free tax return preparation is available for qualifying people. The IRS reminds taxpayers that the income levels in this new round of Economic Impact Payments have changed. This means that some people won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. Payments will begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing jointly). The payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these levels are ineligible for a payment. Individuals can check the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of these payments. Additional information on Economic Impact Payments is available on IRS.gov. Search OFAC's Sanctions Lists OFAC News and Recent Actions Sanctions FAQs Press Releases Contact OFAC Update to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons The SDN list has recently been updated.  Please visit this page to access the latest version of the SDN list.  Check this page periodically as it may also be updated if a new list-related format or product is offered. For more information on today's action, please visit this page.   Where can you learn about import requirements for a foreign market? Check out the Country Commercial Guides (CCGs) for a market of your choice. In the chapter on "Customs, Regulations & Standards", you'll find country-specific requirements for importing products.   Virtual Services to Help You Export Connecting you to business opportunities in markets around the world as quickly and efficiently as possible is a priority for the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) – especially during challenging times. Take advantage of our menu of virtual export promotion services, and learn more about our refund policy to help you export with peace of mind. Export Today for New Exporters You've subscribed to the "New to Exporting" edition for companies just getting started with global sales. Look for tips to grow your international business in this biweekly email message. Holding fast to the protections of the Holder Rule By Lesley Fair The FTC’s long-standing Holder Rule requires businesses to include a special notice in credit contracts that gives consumers certain protections. Today, a Staff Note reiterates the Commission’s determination that the Rule applies regardless of the size of the transaction – and corrects some staff guidelines published in 1976. Read more > Partnering For Success In BlueTech TMA BlueTech is the non-profit industry association and cluster organizer for the San Diego ocean and water technologies community. On this episode of Export Nation, we explore the U.S. Commercial Service’s partnership with Michael Jones, founder and president of TMA BlueTech, and delve deeper into Hydronalix’s export success with CEO and President Anthony Mulligan. We are also joined by senior international trade specialists, Christina Parisi of our Tucson office and Aaron Davidson of our San Diego office, who offer additional insights related to the marine technology sector. New Podcast Export Nation provides informative and entertaining content highlighting America’s export experts and trade-related news, successes, events and insights. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 markets help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to global markets. How the Saver’s Credit Can Help You Save for Retirement 04/14/2021 05:45 PM EDT Saving for retirement can be difficult in the best of times, but even harder during a pandemic and challenging economy. An underutilized tax credit, known as the Saver’s Credit, may be able to make it easier. In a nutshell, the Saver’s Credit is a tax credit that is intended to promote retirement savings among people […]