Tax Prep, Planning & Strategy Archives - Page 22 of 56

digital sales tax | CPAs in Baltimore County | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Maryland Sales and Use Tax on Digital Products

NEWS|March 18, 2021

The Maryland legislation recently overrode Governor Hogan’s veto of House bill 932. The bill expands the current 6% sales and use tax to include the sale of digital products. Maryland recently published Business Tax Tip #29 Sales of Digital Products and Digital Code which gives a nonexclusive lists of possible digital products such as but not limited to:

A sale, subscription or license to access content online
A sale, subscription or license to use a software application
Photographs, artwork, illustrations, graphics and similar products

The release points out that the sales and use tax does not apply to the sale of a non-taxable service performed electronically unless the service results in a digital product. To view the Comptroller’s release click here.

For more details on the recent change to the sales and use tax rules please do not hesitate to call our offices for additional information and to speak to your representative about how this could affect your situation.

A reminder that the Comptrollers Office Of Maryland recently extended the Sales and Use tax deadline for sales taking place in March, April, and May of 2021 to July 15, 2021.

tax deadline extended | accountants in Harford County | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Tax Deadline for Individuals Extended to May 17th

NEWS|March 18, 2021

The Treasury department and Internal revenue service announced that the federal income tax deadline for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15.

The federal tax deadline postponement only applies to individual federal income returns and tax payments, not state tax payments. State filing and payment deadlines vary and are not always the same as the federal filing deadline. Maryland has already extended its filing deadline to July 15th. You can read more on Maryland’s decision to extend the deadline here. For additional states, the IRS urges taxpayers to check with their state tax agencies for additional details.

More information on the IRS’ decision can be found here.

As always, please do not hesitate to call our offices for additional information and to speak to your representative about how this could affect your situation.

maryland filing deadline | CPAs in Harford County | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Comptroller Extends Maryland Income Tax Filing Deadline

NEWS|March 16, 2021

Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that he is extending the state income tax filing deadline by three months to July 15, 2021. No interest or penalties will be assessed if returns are filed and taxes owed are paid by the new deadline.

This applies to individual, pass-through, fiduciary and corporate income tax returns, including first and second quarter estimated payments and is due to recent and pending legislation at the state and federal levels that impact 2020 tax filings and provide economic relief for taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Comptroller’s office will notify the public about the availability of revised and new tax forms on its website and social media accounts. Additional information on tax forms and updates can be found here.

To read more details about the extension and its implications, please read more from the Comptroller’s office here.

As of now, the Internal Revenue Service has kept its filing and payment deadline at April 15. WCS will keep you up to date on any and all changes.

As always, please do not hesitate to call our offices for additional information and to speak to your representative about how this could affect your situation.

ARPA | tax accountants in Cecil County | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has passed: What’s in it for you?

NEWS|March 11, 2021

Congress has passed the latest legislation aimed at providing economic and other relief from the COVID-19 pandemic that has haunted the country for the last year. President Biden is expected to sign the 628-page American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which includes $1.9 trillion in funding for individuals, businesses, and state and local governments.

The ARPA extends and expands some of the critical provisions in the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). It also includes some new provisions that should come as welcome news to many families and businesses.

Key provisions for individuals, businesses and other employers

Here’s a broad overview of some of the provisions that may affect you:

Individuals

Additional direct payments (or recovery rebates) of $1,400 — plus $1,400 per dependent (including adult dependents) will be made to eligible individuals. To qualify, individuals must have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of up to $75,000 per year, ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly and $112,500 for heads of households). The payments phase out and are no longer made when AGI exceeds $80,000 for individuals, $160,000 for married joint filers and $120,000 for heads of household.
For eligible individuals, the Child Tax Credit (CTC) increases to $3,000 for each child age six to 17 and $3,600 per year for children under age six. To be eligible for the full payment, you must have a modified AGI of under $75,000 for singles, $112,500 for heads-of-households and $150,000 for joint filers and surviving spouses. The credit phases out at a rate of $50 for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) of modified AGI over the applicable threshold.
Parents will begin receiving advance payments of part of the CTC later this year. Under the ARPA, the IRS must establish a program to make monthly payments (generally by direct deposits) equal to 50% of eligible taxpayers’ 2021 CTCs, from July 2021 through December 2021.
Some taxpayers who aren’t eligible to claim an increased CTC in 2021, because their income is too high, may be able to claim the regular CTC of up to $2,000, subject to the existing phaseout rules.
For 2021, there’s an expanded child and dependent care tax credit of up to $4,000 for childcare expenses for one child and up to $8,000 for two or more children for households making up to $125,000.
Any student loan debt forgiven between December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2026, will receive tax-free treatment.
An additional $300 per week in unemployment benefits will be paid through September 6, 2021. In addition, the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits received beginning in 2020 isn’t included in gross income for taxpayers with AGIs under $150,000. (However, for joint filers below the AGI limit, the $10,200 exclusion applies separately to each spouse.)
There’s expanded availability of and increased Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for those who obtain insurance in the ACA marketplaces, for 2021 and 2022.
Federal rental assistance is included for families affected by COVID-19, applicable to past due rent, future rent payments, and utility and energy bills.
There’s expanded eligibility for low-income individuals with no qualifying children to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Businesses and other employers

Pandemic assistance grants will be made to eligible businesses serving food or drinks, including restaurants and food trucks.
There will be additional funding for forgivable loans to eligible businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is currently scheduled to expire on March 31, 2021.
Nonprofit organizations and online news services will receive expanded PPP eligibility.
New targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants will be available for eligible small businesses in low-income communities.
The Employee Retention Tax Credit is extended for eligible employers that continue to pay employee wages during COVID-19-related closures or experience reduced revenue through December 31, 2021. This includes “recovery startup businesses” (those businesses that launched after February 15, 2020, with average annual gross receipts of $1 million or less).
Tax credits for paid sick and family leave are modified and extended to September 30, 2021.
The excess business loss limitation is extended through December 31, 2026.
The Section 162(m) limits on the tax deduction that public companies can take for executive compensation is extended to cover the CEO, the CFO and the five next highest paid employees, beginning in 2027.

Make the most of the benefits

With vaccination rates climbing, the ARPA may be the last of the major legislative relief packages addressing the effects of the pandemic. We’d be pleased to provide you with more information on how you can make the most of the benefits available to you, your family or your business. Please contact us today to see how this will affect your situation.

2021 Tax Calendar

Tax Prep, Planning & Strategy|January 25, 2021

To help you make sure you don’t miss any important 2021 deadlines, we’ve provided this summary of when various tax-related forms, payments and other actions are due. Please review the calendar and let us know if you have any questions about the deadlines or would like assistance in meeting them.

Date Deadline for February 1 Individuals: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) and paying tax due, to avoid penalties for underpaying the January 15 installment of estimated taxes.

Businesses: Providing Form 1098, Form 1099-MISC (except for those that have a February 16 deadline), Form 1099-NEC and Form W-2G to recipients.

Employers: Providing 2020 Form W-2 to employees. Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for fourth quarter 2020 (Form 941). Filing an annual return of federal unemployment taxes (Form 940) and paying any tax due.

Employers: Filing 2020 Form W-2 (Copy A) and transmittal Form W-3 with the Social Security Administration.

February 10 Individuals: Reporting January tip income of $20 or more to employers (Form 4070).

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for fourth quarter 2020 (Form 941) and filing a 2020 return for federal unemployment taxes (Form 940), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

February 16 Businesses: Providing Form 1099-B, 1099-S and certain Forms 1099-MISC (those in which payments in Box 8 or Box 10 are being reported) to recipients.

Individuals: Filing a new Form W-4 to continue exemption for another year, if you claimed exemption from federal income tax withholding in 2020.

March 1 Businesses: Filing Form 1098, Form 1099 (other than those with a February 1 or February 16 deadline) and Form W-2G and transmittal Form 1096 for interest, dividends and miscellaneous payments made during 2020. (Electronic filers can defer filing to March 31.) March 10 Individuals: Reporting February tip income of $20 or more to employers (Form 4070). March 15 Calendar-year S corporations: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1120S) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004), and paying any tax due.

Calendar-year partnerships: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1065 or Form 1065-B) or requesting an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004).

March 31 Employers: Electronically filing 2020 Form 1097, Form 1098, Form 1099 (other than those with an earlier deadline) and Form W-2G. April 12 Individuals: Reporting March tip income of $20 or more to employers (Form 4070). April 15 Individuals: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 4868), and paying any tax due. (See June 15 for an exception for certain taxpayers.)

Individuals: Paying the first installment of 2021 estimated taxes, if not paying income tax through withholding (Form 1040-ES).

Individuals: Making 2020 contributions to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA (even if a 2020 income tax return extension is filed).

Individuals: Making 2020 contributions to a SEP or certain other retirement plans (unless a 2020 income tax return extension is filed).

Individuals: Filing a 2020 gift tax return (Form 709) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 8892), and paying any gift tax due. Filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 4868) to extend both Form 1040 and, if no gift tax is due, Form 709.

Household employers: Filing Schedule H, if wages paid equal $2,200 or more in 2020 and Form 1040 isn’t required to be filed. For those filing Form 1040, Schedule H is to be submitted with the return and is thus extended to the due date of the return.

Trusts and estates: Filing an income tax return for the 2020 calendar year (Form 1041) or filing for an automatic five-and-a-half month extension to October 1 (Form 7004), and paying any income tax due.

Calendar-year corporations: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1120) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004), and paying any tax due.

Calendar-year corporations: Paying the first installment of 2021 estimated income taxes.

April 30 Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for first quarter 2021 (Form 941), and paying any tax due. May 10 Individuals: Reporting April tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070).

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for first quarter 2021 (Form 941), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

May 17 Exempt organizations: Filing a 2020 calendar-year information return (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 8868) and paying any tax due.

Small exempt organizations (with gross receipts normally of $50,000 or less): Filing a 2020 e-Postcard (Form 990-N), if not filing Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

June 10 Individuals: Reporting May tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070). June 15 Individuals: Filing a 2020 individual income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) or filing for a four-month extension (Form 4868), and paying any tax and interest due, if you live outside the United States.

Individuals: Paying the second installment of 2021 estimated taxes, if not paying income tax through withholding (Form 1040-ES).

Calendar-year corporations: Paying the second installment of 2021 estimated income taxes.

July 12 Individuals: Reporting June tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070). August 2 Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for second quarter 2021 (Form 941), and paying any tax due.

Employers: Filing a 2020 calendar-year retirement plan report (Form 5500 or Form 5500-EZ) or requesting an extension.

August 10 Individuals: Reporting July tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070).

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for second quarter 2021 (Form 941), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

September 10 Individuals: Reporting August tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070). September 15 Individuals: Paying the third installment of 2021 estimated taxes, if not paying income tax through withholding (Form 1040-ES).

Calendar-year corporations: Paying the third installment of 2021 estimated income taxes.

Calendar-year S corporations: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1120S) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year S corporations: Making contributions for 2020 to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year partnerships: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1065 or Form 1065-B), if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

October 1 Trusts and estates: Filing an income tax return for the 2020 calendar year (Form 1041) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if an automatic five-and-a-half month extension was filed.

Employers: Establishing a SIMPLE or a Safe-Harbor 401(k) plan for 2020, except in certain circumstances.

October 12 Individuals: Reporting September tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070). October 15

Individuals: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if an automatic six-month extension was filed (or if an automatic four-month extension was filed by a taxpayer living outside the United States).

Individuals: Making contributions for 2020 to certain existing retirement plans or establishing and contributing to a SEP for 2020, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Individuals: Filing a 2020 gift tax return (Form 709) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year C corporations: Filing a 2020 income tax return (Form 1120) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year C corporations: Making contributions for 2020 to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

November 1 Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for third quarter 2021 (Form 941) and paying any tax due. November 10 Individuals: Reporting October tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070).

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for third quarter 2021 (Form 941), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

November 15 Exempt organizations: Filing a 2020 calendar-year information return (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if a six-month extension was previously filed. December 10 Individuals: Reporting November tip income, $20 or more, to employers (Form 4070). December 15 Calendar-year corporations: Paying the fourth installment of 2021 estimated income taxes. December 31 Employers: Establishing a retirement plan for 2021 (generally other than a SIMPLE, a Safe-Harbor 401(k) or a SEP).

Contact WCS to see how we can help you meet these deadlines.

bFile System Ready for RELIEF Act Sales & Use Tax Credit | CPA in Harford County | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Governor Hogan Announces Emergency Stimulus & Relief Package

NEWS|January 14, 2021

Governor Larry Hogan recently proposed an emergency legislative package that will provide more than $1 billion in direct stimulus and tax relief for Maryland families, small businesses, and those who have lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If signed into law as drafted the legislation would

Repeal all state and local income taxes on unemployment benefits
Support small businesses with sales tax credits of up to $3,000 per month for four months— for a total of up to $12,000
Extend unemployment tax relief for small businesses. This provision codifies an emergency order the governor issued last month.
Safeguards Maryland businesses against any tax increase triggered by the use of state loan or grant funds.
For families that filed for the states earned income tax credit, provides payments for low-to-moderate income Marylanders, with benefits of up to $750 for families and $450 for individuals. This relief begins with immediate payments of $500 for families and $300 for individuals who filed for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), followed by a second-round stimulus for EITC filers that would provide an additional $250 for eligible families and $150 for individuals. Similar to federal stimulus payments, no application for relief is necessary.

The Governor’s full announcement can be viewed here.

Employee Retention Credit changed for 2020 & 2021

As part of the recently passed 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act Congress made a retroactive amendment and extension of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) which was originally created and made available to businesses as part of the CARES Act of 2020. The extension applies to qualifying wages paid before July 1, 2021.

Previously, a business that received a PPP loan was not eligible to also claim the ERC. However under the new law, PPP borrowers can also apply for the credit, retroactive for 2020. Wages used to satisfy the PPP forgiveness eligibility cannot be used to claim the ERC. Employers that took PPP loans and had excess qualifying payroll should review their eligibility for any ERC available for 2020.

To be eligible for the ERC an employer must have experienced either : (A) Partial or full suspension of operations arising from a governmental order or (B) A significant decrease in gross receipts . The employer must also have continued to pay their employees during this period. A significant decrease in gross receipts is defined as:

2020 year- 2020 Gross receipts were less than 50% of gross receipts for the same quarter in 2019
2021 year- 2021 Gross receipts less than 80% of gross receipts for the same quarter in 2019

The credit computation depends on eligible payroll costs, the maximum eligible credit per employee is $5,000 for 2020 and $7,000 per quarter for Q1 & Q2 2021 (max $14,000).

For employers that have already filed and received their PPP loan forgiveness, additional guidance will be forthcoming as to claiming the 2020 ERC. For employers who received a PPP loan and have yet to apply for forgiveness they may want to consider holding their applications until additional guidance is released by the IRS and SBA.

For 2021 ERC, eligible employers will claim the ERC similar to how the 2020 ERC was claimed, that is by Form 941. In anticipation of receiving the ERC, eligible employers can fund qualified wages by: (1) Accessing federal employment taxes, including withheld taxes that are required to be deposited with the IRS, and (2) Requesting an advance of the credit from the IRS for the amount of the credit that is not funded by accessing the federal employment tax deposits, by filing Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19.

While the IRS has not yet updated their website for the new law, we anticipate updates shortly. Information can be obtained here.

The above is a summary of the ERC, additional eligibility requirements and exemptions apply. Employers with over 100 employees in 2020 or 500 employees in 2021 have additional restrictions.

Please do not hesitate to call our offices for additional information and to speak to your representative about how this could affect your situation.

Important Tax Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act

Tax Prep, Planning & Strategy|December 28, 2020

The Consolidated Appropriations Act package signed by President Trump on December 27^th after being passed by Congress on December 21^st contains a number of important tax provisions designed to assist many individual and business taxpayers.

Individual Stimulus checks

Subject to income limitations, eligible taxpayers will receive payments of up to $600 for each adult and $600 for each dependent. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin expects the initial direct deposits to begin arriving in taxpayers’ accounts via direct deposit the following week.

PPP loans – Additional Funding and Clarity Regarding Deductibility of Related Expenses

Certain small businesses are eligible for a second round of PPP loans, with stricter rules to determine eligibility for need based funding. Eligibility to certain industries such as local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, churches and faith-based organizations has been expanded.

Additionally, Congress clarified the treatment of expenses related to PPP loans forgiven or reasonably expected to be forgiven. In Notice 2020-32, IRS previously issued that such expenses were not deductible. The Consolidated Appropriations Act clarified to state that “no deduction shall be denied, no tax attribute shall be reduced, and no basis increase shall be denied” for such expenses. Congress has also made changes to simplify the forgiveness application.

Other tax changes

The employment tax credit related to an employer’s portion (6.2%) of FICA taxes has been extended for certain employers.

Certain energy tax credits have been temporarily extended.

Business meals (not entertainment expenses) have been temporarily increased to 100% deductible for 2021 and 2022.

The stimulus package also contained numerous other important provisions that we will continue to monitor as additional information is released.

Questions?

Please contact a member of the WCS Tax Department with any questions.

Maryland Pass-Through Entities: Changes to State Tax Deduction

Tax Prep, Planning & Strategy|December 28, 2020

Following the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2018, individual taxpayers who report itemized deductions on their individual tax returns have generally been limited to the $10,000 cap on the deduction of state and local taxes. Subsequently, many states with high tax rates have looked for opportunities to mitigate such limitation.

Maryland issued legislation in July 2020 permitting a Maryland pass-through entity to elect to pay the tax imposed with respect to Maryland resident members’ share of income. If the annual election is made, the Maryland tax relating to such portion of income would be considered a tax on the entity, and accordingly treated as a business deduction at the pass-through entity level.

Following the announcement of the Maryland legislation, the Internal Revenue Service also recently released Notice 2020-75 which accepted certain pass-through taxes as a deduction at the entity level. The IRS anticipates proposed regulations on this matter to be released as well.

Maryland Pass-Through Entity Election

As currently written, the Maryland election is only available to pass-through S-Corporation and partnership entities (not available for sole proprietors) operating a trade or business and is not available for Maryland nonresident pass-through entity members.

There are many current uncertainties as tax forms and instructions have yet to be released. We expect clarification and technical corrections to be released.

Year End Tax Planning

With the recent Maryland and IRS releases, there are a many potential timing and cash flow implications relating to the payment of the estimated Maryland tax liability by the pass-through entity. We recommend these discussions be included as part of year end 2020 tax planning and consideration of the Maryland tax liability in the future.

Questions?

Please contact a member of the WCS Tax Department here.

Get smart when tackling estate planning for intellectual property

Tax Prep, Planning & Strategy|August 20, 2020

If you’ve invented something during your lifetime and had it patented, your estate includes intellectual property (IP). The same goes for any copyrighted works. These assets can hold substantial value, and, thus, must be addressed by your estate plan. However, bear in mind that these assets are generally treated differently than other types of property.

4 categories of IP

IP generally falls into one of four categories: patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets. Let’s focus on only patents and copyrights, which are protected by federal law in order to promote scientific and creative endeavors by providing inventors and artists with exclusive rights to benefit economically from their work for a certain period.

In a nutshell, patents protect inventions, and the two most common are utility and design patents. Under current law, utility patents protect an invention for 20 years from the patent application filing date. Design patents last 15 years from the patent issue date. For utility patents, it typically takes at least a year to a year and a half from the date of filing to the date of issue.

When it comes to copyrights, they protect the original expression of ideas that are fixed in a “tangible medium of expression,” typically in the form of written works, music, paintings, film and photographs. Unlike patents, which must be approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, copyright protection kicks in as soon as a work is fixed in a tangible medium.

Valuing and transferring IP

Valuing IP is a complex process. So, it’s best to obtain an appraisal from a professional with experience valuing this commodity.

After you know the IP’s value, it’s time to decide whether to transfer the IP to family members, colleagues, charities or others through lifetime gifts or through bequests after your death. The gift and estate tax consequences will affect your decision. But you also should consider your income needs, as well as who’s in the best position to monitor your IP rights and take advantage of their benefits.

If you’ll continue to depend on the IP for your livelihood, for example, hold on to it at least until you’re ready to retire or you no longer need the income. You also might want to retain ownership of the IP if you feel that your children or other transferees lack the desire or wherewithal to take advantage of its economic potential and monitor and protect it against infringers.

Whichever strategy you choose, it’s important to plan the transaction carefully to ensure your objectives are achieved. There’s a common misconception that, when you transfer ownership of the tangible medium on which IP is recorded, you also transfer the IP rights. But IP rights are separate from the work itself and are retained by the creator.

Revise your plan accordingly

If you own patents or copyrights, you probably have great interest in who’ll take possession of your work after you’re gone. Contact us with any questions on how to incorporate IP in your estate plan.

ERM: A systemic approach to reducing your nonprofit’s risks

Accounting & Assurance|August 19, 2020

Do you associate enterprise risk management (ERM) with for-profit businesses? This systemic approach to risk reduction can be just as effective when adopted by nonprofit organizations. Even organizations with limited resources can — and should — use an ERM process to combat threats.

Weighing risks

ERM is a comprehensive program that considers an organization’s entire portfolio of risks. Rather than attacking every risk equally, ERM compares risks and strategically deploys resources depending on their likelihood and potential impact.

You might also have different tolerances for different kinds of threats — for example, be mildly cautious about reputational risks and very averse to financial risks. With ERM, you can contain those risks with the greatest potential impact and respond nimbly to others.

Using it effectively

Experienced financial advisors and risk-management consultants can help you set up an ERM program. Generally, you’ll want to start by establishing a risk management governance structure with assigned roles and responsibilities. Your nonprofit’s executives and board should define the organization’s risk tolerance and make clear its commitment to the program.

Next, your organization will want to:

Assemble a cross-departmental committee to develop the program. Different departments may have different perspectives on certain risks. For example, a finance manager might think inaccurate reporting of program information is less consequential because it’s unlikely to affect revenues or expenses. Your public relations manager may disagree, arguing that such errors could affect how donors and other supporters view your nonprofit.

Conduct a risk assessment. The committee’s first task is to identify risks. It shouldn’t rely on its own knowledge, but should conduct interviews with management and staff and, possibly, clients. Then, the committee will be ready to rank risks based on your organization’s tolerance and their potential impact. Which are most likely to occur? Which could cause the most harm? The bottom line: Which threats are most likely to prevent you from accomplishing your mission?

Create and implement a plan. Once risks are identified and prioritized, the committee can devise a plan to mitigate them appropriately. For each risk, it should determine whether to accept, reduce or avoid it. And it should implement controls, processes and procedures accordingly. The committee is then charged with rolling out the plan. This should include communicating it throughout the organization.

Review and revise. ERM is an ongoing process, with continual monitoring of key risks and key performance indicators to ensure appropriate adjustments. Be sure to update your initial risk assessment to reflect organizational changes (for example, new staff or services), as well as changes in the legal and regulatory environment.

Cost-effective method

Once it’s established, you should be able to manage an ERM program with internal staff and board input. So, it’s a fairly cost-effective method of containing threats. Talk to us about adopting ERM.

Maryland Sales and Use Tax on Digital Products

Tax Deadline for Individuals Extended to May 17th

Comptroller Extends Maryland Income Tax Filing Deadline

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has passed: What’s in it for you?

2021 Tax Calendar

Governor Hogan Announces Emergency Stimulus & Relief Package

Important Tax Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act

Maryland Pass-Through Entities: Changes to State Tax Deduction

Get smart when tackling estate planning for intellectual property

ERM: A systemic approach to reducing your nonprofit’s risks

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