Resources - Last updated 09/09/20

COVID-19 Business Information: Check out our new Business page here for more important information 

COVID-19 Individual Information: Check out our new Individual page here for more important information 

IRS News Releases
​FTB News Releases 

**House and Senate set to return to negations on 09/14 and 09/08 respectively to continue talks of extending benefits 

• Topics of discussion include: Enhanced Unemployment benefits, Rent Moratoriums, and relief for Student Loans

New Article (As of 08/15/20)

www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspxShelter in place remains in effect

• All persons and businesses in Santa Clara County must comply with the county order 

County of Santa Clara - Public health orders (as of 07/30/20)
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Santa Clara County - Phase 2-* We are currently in this phase 

• Will allow new categories of business to re open, subject to specific conditions and limitations
• Retail stores may open, but only for curbside/ outside pickups ​

County of Santa Clara Order
News Article as of 04/2720

Current Scams related to COVID-19

Medicare Scams

• ​Scammers may call and offer things like COVID-19 kits, or benefits related to the virus 
• They will ask to verify your bank information before sending you the above mentioned items

Relief Payment Messages From "Government Agencies" 

• The FTC is getting reports about fraudulent calls, texts, and emails coming from people pretending to be from Social Security, IRS, Census, USCIS, and the FDIC
• If you respond they may ask for money, personal information, or both

Federal Trade Commission: Videos to avoid scams (as of 06/01/20)
FDIC Website (Scams as of 04/10/20)
News Article (as of 04/14/20)

​Cares Act

• Direct payments - payments made to taxpayers as a stimulus based off your income
• Unemployment - Expands eligibility and offers workers an additional $600 per week for four months  
• Payroll taxes - Employers can delay payment portion of 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 & 2022
• Use of retirement funds - Waives the 10% early withdrawal penalty for distributions up to $100,000 for Coronavirus related purposes 
• RMDs suspended - Required minimum distributions from IRAs and 401(k) (at age 72) are suspended 
• Small business relief - Companies who maintain their payroll can receive up to 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance 
• Employee retention credit - Employers subject to closure due to COVID-19 are eligible for a refundable payroll tax credit equal to 50% of qualified wages with respect to each employee.  The maximum wages per employee that can be taken into account for all quarters an employer may be eligible for this credit is $10,000
• Creates a new "above-the-line" deduction for up to $300 of charitable cash contributions in 2020,  this write-off is only available to people who take the standard deduction

Cares Act Bill 
News article (as of 03/29/20)

CA Commissioner Orders Insurance Companies to Refund Premiums to Drivers 

• Covers premiums paid for at least March/ April, will extend through May if shelter in place continues 
• Insurance companies will have no later than August to comply 

News article (04/13/20)

​IRS tax filing and payment deadline pushed back to July 15

• IRS pushed back tax payments 90 days to July 15
• The deadline to file was just pushed back 90 days as well to July 15 (updated 03/20/20)
• 2020 1st quarter estimated taxes also now due July 15
• IRS has pushed back the deadline to make 2019 IRA or HSA contributions to July 15 *NEW 
• The IRS is currently unable to process paper tax returns, respond to paper correspondence, or staff toll-free live service lines (as of 04/13/20)

IRS Urges Taxpayers to Use Electronic Options
IRS Deadline to Contribute to IRA or HSA accounts extended (as of 03/24/20)
​IRS Tax Payment Deadline (as of 03/21/20)
Filing and Payments Deadlines FAQ 

Franchise Tax Board postpones Tax Deadlines until July 15
FTB is postponing until July 15 the filing and payment deadlines for all individuals and business entities for:

• 2019 tax returns
• 2019 tax return payments
• 2020 1st and 2nd quarter estimate payments
• 2020 LLC taxes and fees

FTB News releases (as of 03/18/20)
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​​Property Taxes - County of Santa Clara 

• April 10th deadline is not extended, but penalties will be waived due to reasonable cause and circumstance
• ​Property owners can take advantage of a partial payment option 

Department of Tax and Collections (as of 03/18/20)

Executive Order Protecting Homes, Smalls Business from Water Shutoffs

• Governor Newsom signed an executive order that will restrict water shutoffs to homes and small business
• The order protects consumer who may not be able to pay for their water service from shutoffs

Order Protecting Water shutoffs (as of 04/02/20)
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California Governor Issues Stay at Home Order throughout the State of California

• Started 3/19 and in effect until further notice
• Essential services will remain open
• Extended till 5/03

Stay at Home Order (as of 03/19/20)
Stay at Home Order Extended to 05/03/20

Statewide Moratorium on Evictions

• Executive order banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters by COVID-19 extended through July 28th
• Prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent

Moratorium on evictions extended through July 28 (as of 05/29/20)

Mortgage Relief Options

• Homeowners can request a forbearance for up to 180 days if they have a hardship due to Covid-19
• You will still owe the money you were paying, this is a temporary pause on making your monthly payments 
• You must contact you loan servicer to ask for a forbearance 

News article (as of 05/03/20)
Article regarding home mortgages (as of 04/24/20) 

Shelter in place - County of Santa Clara 

• Essential services to remain open 
• Prohibits all non-essential gatherings 
• Orders cessation of all non-essential travel

Shelter in Place Order (as of 3/16/20)
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