COVID-19: IRS Issues Notice 2020-20 Postponing Filing and Payments of Federal Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Estate Planning and Probate

Notice 2020-20 (an update to Notice 2020-18) has now extended the due date for additional tax returns. Automatic Postponement of the Due Date for Filing Forms 709 and Making Payments of Federal Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax. The due date for filing Forms 709 (United States Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return) and making payments […]


Karen Kalzer

New Families First Guidance from Department of Labor

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Employment

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has provided additional information and guidance regarding the emergency leaves provided under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA).  The Q & A page that provides the guidance may be found at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions. The following are some highlights of the new guidance: The Emergency FMLA (EFMLA) is not in […]


COVID-19: CARES Act and Retirement Relief

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Estate Planning and Probate, Taxation

The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides relief to those affected by the pandemic.  This blog post will focus on the provisions solely affecting retirement plans. Hardship Distributions:  The Act allows individuals affected by the virus to take early withdrawals of up to $100,000 from their retirement plans or IRAs, without incurring […]


COVID-19: IRS Postpones Filing and Payment Due Date for Taxpayers with April 15, 2020 Deadlines

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Estate Planning and Probate, Taxation

The IRS has issued Notice 2020-18 expanding tax filing and tax payment relief for taxpayers due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Who qualifies?  Any “person,” which includes an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation under IRC §7701(a)(1), with a federal income tax payment or a federal income tax return due on April 15, 2020, […]


Karen Kalzer

U.S. Department of Labor Releases Model Notice of Employee Rights to Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Employment

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA” or “the Act”) requires covered employers to provide employees with notice of the provisions of the Act.  The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided a model notice which may be found here:  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf Although the notice may be posted physically at the employer’s main office in a […]


Karen Kalzer

Department of Labor Issues Families First Coronavirus Response Act Guidance

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Employment

The Department of Labor has issued some limited guidance regarding the implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA),  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions. Additional, more detailed, guidance will be forthcoming. Please take note of these vital clarifications. FFCRA will go into effect on April 1, 2020 NOT on April 2 as previously reported.  This is important to […]


Michael Spence

COVID-19 and Your Real Estate Transaction

Coronavirus / COVID-19, Land Use, Real Estate

The COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order have stopped your real estate transaction dead in its tracks.  The earnest money is in escrow, but Washington is shut down for all but “essential services”, which does not include real estate at this time.  What are your options? If your transaction involves Northwest […]


Wage Theft, Minimum Wage Violations: Most Costly Areas for Employers Investigated by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards

Employment

According to data reports published by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards – which enforces the City’s labor standards for minimum wage, Paid Sick and Safe Time, Fair Chance Employment, and other related laws – the costliest areas of enforcement for employers are violations of minimum wage and wage theft ordinances. In the first six […]