As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues to impact people around the world, we’ve received many questions and concerns about how to navigate these uncertain times as a tax and accounting practice.

To help, we’ve created this resource library that you can use to manage your business and your clients during this time.

Whether you’re a solopreneur tax preparer, an Enrolled Agent with a few employees, a more established CPA firm, or anything in between, CountingWorks PRO will be here to support you as the impacts of this pandemic continue. We are continually monitoring the situation and will update this post as new resources become available, so be sure to bookmark this page and follow us on social media to get all the updates.

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For tax and accounting professionals:

• “What to Say When…” COVID-19 Email Templates for Tax and Accounting Pros

For taxpayers, small business owners, and other stakeholders:

• Self-Employed and Independent Contractors Now Qualify for Unemployment Benefits
• How Can I File for Unemployment in the United States?
• Stimulus Legislation Includes SBA Loan Forgiveness
• Running Low on Money? Congress Has Made it Easier for You to Tap Your Retirement Savings
• Working from Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak? It Probably Won’t Save You Much on Your Taxes
• What Does the $2 Trillion Stimulus Package Mean for You?
• Congress Provides Sick Leave and Child Care Leave Benefits for Employees
• Q&A: Understanding SBA Disaster Loans and What They Mean for You
• Can't Pay Your Taxes? Payment Due Date Extended Because of COVID-19
• What the April 15 Tax Filing Deadline Extension Means to You
• The SBA Is Providing Small Business Disaster Loans for Relief During the Coronavirus Outbreak
• Tax Filing Deadline Delayed to July 15
• Beware of Scammers During the COVID-19 Crisis
• Coronavirus and Taxes: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: What Employers Need to Know
• Treasury and IRS Announce 90-Day Delay for Tax Payment Deadline
• Why You Need a Financial Advisor Even More in Uncertain Times

• Webinar: Adapting to Client Engagements During the Coronavirus Emergency
  Learn our strategy in helping guide your practice through the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emergency. We also discuss our coronavirus outbreak update template, to give your clients the information they need to work with you during these uncertain times.

• QuickHits: Setting up an all-digital workflow
• QuickHits: How to set up remote tax and accounting offices in a hurry
• QuickHits: In-person client engagement best practices during COVID-19

1. Email Template: Coronavirus Outbreak Update
   We know every practice is different and is setting up its unique office policies to meet the challenges ahead. To save you time, we have developed a free email message that can be edited and used as a template to establish your policy.
2. Email Templates: “What to say when…” Practice Updates During COVID-19 
   This blog offers five email templates you can directly copy and paste to use for your own client communication during the coronavirus pandemic. Each one covers a common update you may be needing to send your clients regarding changes to your practice during this time.

• CPE Webcast: Tax Effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the CARES Act - 3 Hours CPE
• Webcast: COVID-19 Tax Related Issues MicroCast - 1 Hour

If you’re a CountingWorks PRO client, our digital offerings will be especially vital for your practice as you aim to use virtual client engagement wherever possible. Not a client yet? Talk to us here. Below are some of the most helpful features and links to training videos for your client portal:

• Client portal
• Secure file sharing
• E-Sign
• KBA compliance
• Tax Organizers & Digital Workflows
• Online ID verification check
• Contact management
• Email messaging communication tools 
• 24/7 support and help center
• Tax & accounting PDF, video and article library
• Expert-written COVID-19 content for your blog

In order to best serve your tax clients during what must be one of the most unconventional tax seasons in history, make sure you’re staying up to date on the latest info from the IRS and other sources.

1. IRS Newsroom
   Note: There is currently an announcement on the IRS Newsroom regarding the economic impact payments: “Do not call. Check back for updates.”
2. News Releases & Statements:
   • April 3, 2020: Follow IRS on social media, sign up for e-news subscriptions for urgent updates on COVID-19, scams and economic impact payment information
   • April 2, 2020: IRS issues warning about Coronavirus-related scams; watch out for schemes tied to economic impact payments
   • March 31, 2020: Employee Retention Credit available for many businesses financially impacted by COVID-19
   • March 30, 2020: Economic impact payments: What you need to know
   • March 25, 2020: IRS unveils new People First Initiative; COVID-19 effort temporarily adjusts, suspends key compliance program
   • March 24, 2020: IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue
   • March 21, 2020: Tax Day now July 15 – Treasury, IRS extend filing deadline and federal tax payments regardless of amount owed
   • March 20, 2020: Treasury, IRS and Labor announce plan to implement Coronavirus-related paid leave for workers and tax credits for small and midsize businesses to swiftly recover the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave
   • March 20, 2020: The IRS has temporarily closed all Taxpayer Assistance Centers and discontinued face-to-face service throughout the country
   • March 18, 2020: Treasury News Release – Treasury and IRS Issue Guidance on Deferring Tax Payments Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
   • March 11, 2020: High-deductible health plans can cover coronavirus costs
3. Guidance:
   • Notice 2020-17 (PDF), Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
   • Notice 2020-15 (PDF), High deductible health plans and expenses related to COVID-19
   • Notice 2020-57 (PDF), Refundable Payroll Tax Credits
   • Filing, Payment & Actions Deadlines for 2019 Tax Returns
   • Families First Coronavirus Response Act

• State Tax Filing Guidance for Coronavirus Pandemic

• Tracking State Legislative Responses to COVID-19

Whether you use these resources for your own practice or for your small business clients, make sure you know all the resources and assistance available to help SMBs in this time of economic hardship.

1. U.S. Treasury Department
   • Treasury Assistance for Small Businesses Resource Page
   • Small Business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
   • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Sheet: Borrowers
   • Final PPP Borrower Application Form 
2. USA Small Business Administration
   • Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease  
   • Funding Programs Page
   • SBA Disaster Assistance for COVID-19
   • Three-Step Process for SBA Disaster Loans
   • Capital Access Resources
   • SBA Local Assistance Directory
   • Info For Federal Contractors
   • Disaster Response Jobs at SBA
3. U.S. Chamber of Commerce
   • COVID-19 Small Business Guide
   • Coronavirus response toolkit for small businesses
4. Small Business Development Center: COVID-19 Small Business Resources
5. ADP: Good resource for businesses managing absences, paid and unpaid leave
6. Forbes: List Of Coronavirus Small Business Relief Programs (updated continually, state and local included)
7. Financial assistance (Grants, loans, etc):
   • For freelancers: The Freelancers Union has started a Freelancers Relief Fund where you can apply for grants to make up for lost income
   • Faire: Financial planner for retailers – Use this calculator to understand the potential impact of COVID-19 on your business, and see immediate next steps you can take
   • Loom: Free COVID-19 Cash Runway Scenario Planning Tool – Gauge the impact COVID-19 could have on your company
   • Facebook: Small Business Grants Program (offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits)
   • Finder.com: Where to find free or low-interest loans for small businesses affected by the coronavirus
   • Kiva: The crowdsourcing/microfinance company is offering 0% loans up to $15,000 with no payments for six months.
   • GoFundMe has partnered with Yelp to launch the Small Business Relief Initiative, offering grants and resources to small business owners.
8. Support Local (USA Today): Buy gift cards to support local businesses struggling during this time – and encourage others to do the same!
9. Articles
   • Bank of America’s small business loan portal is up, making it the first major bank to begin program
   • How to Update Your Business Hours on Google, Facebook, and Yelp
   • Zoom: Five Tips for Successfully Managing Your Remote Team
   • Social Distancing: A Work From Home Survival Guide
   • 35 questions for coronavirus planning at your business
   • Is a Remote Work Option Right for Your Business?
   As many people are being forced to work remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak, CountingWorks explores some of the benefits of these policies for your business and your employees (at any time)
   • 7 Things to Do When Creating an Emergency Work-From-Home Policy for COVID-19
   • How to Manage Small Business Coronavirus Concerns When Employees Can't Work From Home
   • 8 Things Your Small Business Needs to Do Immediately During COVID-19

Keep checking these pages for the latest news and guidelines straight from the source – government and public health officials.

1. Centers For Disease Control
   • Coronavirus Resources Page
   • About Coronavirus Disease
   • Situation Summary
   • Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
2. Coronavirus.gov
   • Resources for small business owners
   • Resources for businesses
   • Resources for households
3. World Health Organization Coronavirus Information Page
4. Department of Homeland Security Pandemic Guide
5. U.S. State Department
   • Travel Advisories
   • Current Outbreak Updates
6. USA.gov
   • Total Government Response to Coronavirus
   • Total Government Response to Coronavirus (Spanish)
   • Government Response by State

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The latest updates about key events, sites, and more from around the tax and accounting industry.

• IRS warns of coronavirus-related tax scams
• FASB mulls pushing back accounting standards deadlines in response to coronavirus
• IRS employees ordered to work from home to avoid coronavirus
• Continuous Testing for U.S. CPA Exam candidates to begin July 1
• Cybersecurity in the Time of COVID-19: Keys to Embracing (and Securing) a Remote Workforce
• 5 Steps Firms Can Take to Secure Data More During Covid-19
• House passes historic $2 trillion stimulus despite objections from GOP lawmaker
• The New York Times: F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Bill
• Tax Policy Center: How Will The Coronavirus Stimulus Bill’s Individual Payments Work?
  
• Tax Policy Center: How Soon Can The IRS Get Coronavirus Payments Out The Door?
• Accounting Conferences Impacted by Coronavirus (Postponed or Rescheduled)
• Coronavirus Response: Industry Survey
  How is your organization responding to coronavirus challenges? Accounting Today wants to know.
• Prometric closes CPA Exam test centers for 30 days until 4/16
• Conditional coronavirus relief provided by SEC
  Public companies that encounter challenges meeting SEC filing deadlines because of the coronavirus may qualify for regulatory relief under certain conditions
• Tax Foundation: Analysis of the latest tax policy developments during coronavirus

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