Emergency $900 Billion Pandemic Relief

On Dec. 21, 2020, Congress passed an emergency $900 billion pandemic relief bill, extending CARES to people in need. On Dec. 27, 2020, the President signed the legislation, part of a government funding package. The new Covid-19 legislation includes:

Direct payments: The maximum amount is $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples filing jointly, plus an additional $600 per qualifying child. Subject to phase out for individuals making more than $75,000 modified adjusted gross income and married couples over $150,000. It’s a 2020 advanced recovery rebate with eligibility based on 2019 tax returns. These direct payments are non-taxable income.

Extension of federal pandemic unemployment compensation: Restores FPUC supplement to all state and federal unemployment benefits at $300 per week, starting after Dec. 26, 2020, and ending March 14, 2021. These unemployment benefits are taxable income.

Small business PPP forgivable loans: The new legislation clarifies tax treatment under the CARES Act. Borrowers may deduct PPP business expenses financed with PPP loans, and loan forgiveness is not taxable income. New funding allows “PPP second-draw” loans for smaller and harder-hit businesses, with a maximum of $2 million.

Business meals tax deduction raised to 100% through 2022, increased from 50%. Traders don’t have many business meals.

TTS traders might qualify for direct payments but not unemployment benefits since they don’t have earned income from trading. The SBA labels trading a speculative business precluding it from SBA loans, including PPP loans.

Full details have yet to be released, so stay tuned to our blog to see how this impacts TTS traders.

See the CARES Act in our Tax Center.