Snohomish County is at the lowest case rate we’ve seen since October 2020, and we’re below 100 cases per 100,000 population for the first time in 2.5 months. Vaccination and healthy habits, like staying home when sick and respecting others’ space, can help us keep going. #inittogether
The Internal Revenue Service late last week posted two new, separate sets of frequently-asked-questions to assist families and small and mid-sized employers in claiming credits under the American Rescue Plan.
Both the child and dependent care credit as well as the paid sick and family leave credit were enhanced under the ARP, enacted in March to assist families and small businesses with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery underway. The two sets of FAQs provide information on eligibility, computing the credit amounts, and how to claim these important tax benefits.
For 2021, the ARP increased the maximum amount of work-related expenses for qualifying care that may be taken into account in calculating the credit; increased the maximum percentage of those expenses for which the credit may be taken; modified how the credit is reduced for higher earners, and made it refundable. Eligible taxpayers can claim qualifying work-related expenses up to:
- $8,000 for one qualifying person, up from $3,000 in prior years, or
- $16,000 for two or more qualifying persons, up from $6,000 in prior years.
The paid sick and family leave credits reimburse eligible employers for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees for reasons related to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations. Self-employed individuals are eligible for similar tax credits.
The FAQs include information on how eligible employers may claim the paid sick and family leave credits, including how to file for and compute the applicable credit amounts, and how to receive advance payments for and refunds of the credits. Under the ARP, eligible employers, including businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, may claim tax credits for qualified leave wages and certain other wage-related expenses (such as health plan expenses and certain collectively bargained benefits) paid with respect to leave taken by employees beginning on April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.
See the full press release for more information.
This is the fifth installment from the state Department of Health addressing questions about COVID-19 vaccines. Among other things, this post addresses:
- It’s my choice to get the vaccine. Why does it matter to anyone else if I skip it?
- If most cases of COVID-19 are mild, why do I need the vaccine?
The Attorney General’s Office and Washington’s Lottery are urging Washingtonians to be wary of potential scams associated with the state’s “Shot of a Lifetime” lottery for vaccinated Washingtonians.
The program’s drawings will be held on Tuesdays through July 13, and feature $250,000 and $1 million cash prizes, sporting event tickets, technology and tuition credits, among other incentives. Vaccinated individuals who are in the state’s Immunization Information System are automatically entered into the drawings.
The primary method the Lottery will use to contact drawing winners is by phone, but representatives with the Lottery will never ask for bank account information or Social Security numbers over the phone. The Lottery may also contact some winners by email or, as a final method of outreach, text message. If you are wary of a call, voicemail, email or text that purports to be from the Lottery, contact Washington’s Lottery directly at 360-810-2888 to verify that they are a Lottery representative.
The Lottery has received some reports of callers attempting to use the program to scam Washingtonians.
See the full press release for more details.
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Snohomish Health District Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters provide updates on the response to COVID-19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRaPgjmGYV4
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