Windham Region Chamber of Commerce

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MANDATORY SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING DEADLINE APRIL 19

Connecticut employers who have yet to comply with the state’s sexual harassment prevention training mandate have been given more time.

The state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has again delayed the deadline for employers to complete the training, pushing it back to Apr. 19, 2021.  The previous deadline was Feb 9.  This law was mandated in 2019 by state lawmakers.  This applies to EVERY business with THREE or more employees!

This legislation establishes new rules and requirements regarding sexual harassment training and education. These provisions and requirements originally went into effect October 1, 2019. The language, which applies to employers which have three or more employees , includes:

  • Employers will be required to provide to a new employee a copy of information regarding the illegality of sexual harassment and remedies available to victims.
  • Employers must provide all existing employees with two hours of training by April 19, 2021.
  • Employers must provide two hours of training and education to new employees hired on or after October 1, 2019 within six months of their start date.
  • Employers with fewer than three employees must provide two hours of training and education to all existing supervisory employees by April 19, 2021 or within six months to new supervisory employees.
  • Employers must provide periodic supplemental training not less than every ten years.

FREE Online Training Course

The Time’s Up Act requires CHRO to develop an online training and education video and to make that available to employers at no cost.

The training can be viewed here. The training will proceed through each section of the training. When viewing the training videos, the links in the training will open a separate window to the videos hosted on Youtube. To complete the quizzes, pause the Youtube video, go back to the training page, and proceed to the next section. If you have already completed the training and would like to request an additional certificate of completion, you can do so from the first page of the training.  If you would like a certificate and have not received one, please use the CHRO Training Certificate Request Form here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Written Materials

Posters

 

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DEADLINE MAR 15 FOR NONPROFITS TO SUBMIT DISASTER LOANS FROM STORM ISAIAS

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible Private Nonprofit organizations (PNPs) in Connecticut of the March 15 deadline to submit disaster loan applications for physical damages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias on Aug. 4, 2020. PNPs located in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham counties, and the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians in Connecticut are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at  DisasterLoan.sba.gov.  Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339) for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster.

DISASTER FACT SHEET

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REMINDER: FIRST QUARTERLY PFMLA PAYMENT DUE

Beginning on January 1, 2022, paid leave benefits under the Connecticut Paid Leave program (CPL) will be available for certain qualifying events under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act (CT FMLA), and the Connecticut Family Violence Leave Act.

Beginning January 1, 2021, employers began withholding employee contributions (0.5% payroll tax) from each employee’s paycheck for ultimate remittance to the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority trust fund, which oversees the payment of CPL benefits.

The first quarterly payment to the CPL Authority is due at the end of this month (March 2021).  After that you will need to continue making quarterly payments due at the end of the last month of each quarter.

At this time we do not have any specific guidelines or procedures for employees and employers regarding applying for and receiving the actual benefits (starting January 1, 2022).  The CT Department of Labor will publish these guidelines at the end of this year for you to distribute to your employees.  All private sector employees will have some form of leave benefit.  Some federal, some state, some paid, some unpaid, and job protection.  We will keep you informed both with news and webinars on the specifics of each.

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BUSINESS TAP SPECIALISTS

The Windham Region Chamber of Commerce would like to introduce you to our newest Business TAP Specialists.  All four of our team members are students at Eastern CT State University majoring in business and marketing.  Business TAP is a program where we work one on one with business owners to help them navigate the virtual world including helping them create social media pages, newsletters, blogs, virtual meetings and a commercial.  If you are interested in becoming a client, all services are free, please email the Chamber at info@windhamchamber.com or call 860-428-7739.  Here are the newest members to our team:

Joshua Buvelot

My name is Joshua Buvelot and I am a senior at Eastern Connecticut State University. My major is Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and finance. My goal after I graduate is to continuing growing my personal business.

John Ferrara

My name is John Ferrara, and I am a senior here at Eastern. I am from Northampton, Massachusetts and I am studying marketing and communications. I enjoy sports, the outdoors, and traveling and have a passion for environmental sustainability.

Olivia Puleo

My name is Olivia Puleo. I’m a senior at Eastern Connecticut State University and I’m majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Business Information Systems. My goal after college is to get a job in Marketing for a company.

Matthew Mocker

My name is Matt Mocker and I am a Junior at Eastern Connecticut State University. My major is Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Business Information Systems. My goal for after graduation is to further enhance my knowledge of business and grow multiple streams of income.

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TAXPAYERS SHOULD GET IDENTITY PROTECTION PINS TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT

The Internal Revenue Service expanded the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program to all taxpayers who can verify their identities.

The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a taxpayers’ personally identifiable information.

“This is a way to, in essence, lock your tax account, and the IP PIN serves as the key to opening that account,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Electronic returns that do not contain the correct IP PIN will be rejected, and paper returns will go through additional scrutiny for fraud.”

The IRS launched the IP PIN program nearly a decade ago to protect confirmed identity theft victims from ongoing tax-related fraud. In recent years, the IRS expanded the program to specific states where taxpayers could voluntarily opt into the IP PIN program. Now, the voluntary program is going nationwide.

About the IP PIN Opt-In Program

Here are a few key things to know about the IP PIN Opt-In program:

  • This is a voluntary program.
  • You must pass a rigorous identity verification process.
  • Spouses and dependents are eligible for an IP PIN if they can verify their identities.
  • An IP PIN is valid for a calendar year.
  • You must obtain a new IP PIN each filing season.
  • The online IP PIN tool is offline between November and mid-January each year.
  • Correct IP PINs must be entered on electronic and paper tax returns to avoid rejections and delays.
  • Never share your IP PIN with anyone but your trusted tax provider. The IRS will never call, text or email requesting your IP PIN. Beware of scams to steal your IP PIN.
  • There currently is no opt-out option but the IRS is working on one for 2022.

How to get an IP PIN

Taxpayers who want an IP PIN for 2021 should go to IRS.gov/IPPIN and use the Get an IP PIN tool. This online process will require taxpayers to verify their identities using the Secure Access authentication process if they do not already have an IRS account. See IRS.gov/SecureAccess for what information you need to be successful. There is no need to file a Form 14039, an Identity Theft Affidavit, to opt into the program

Once taxpayers have authenticated their identities, their 2021 IP PIN immediately will be revealed to them. Once in the program, this PIN must be used when prompted by electronic tax returns or entered by hand near the signature line on paper tax returns.

All taxpayers are encouraged to first use the online IP PIN tool to obtain their IP PIN. Taxpayers who cannot verify their identities online do have options.

Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $72,000 or less may complete Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number, and mail or fax to the IRS. An IRS customer service representative will contact the taxpayer and verify their identities by phone. Taxpayers should have their prior year tax return at hand for the verification process.

Taxpayers who verify their identities through this process will have an IP PIN mailed to them the following tax year. This is for security reasons. Once in the program, the IP PIN will be mailed to these taxpayers each year.

Taxpayers who cannot verify their identities online or by phone and who are ineligible for file Form 15227 can contact the IRS and make an appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center to verify their identities in person. Taxpayers should bring two forms of identification, including one government-issued picture identification.

Taxpayers who verify their identities through the in-person process will have an IP PIN mailed to them within three weeks. Once in the program, the IP PIN will be mailed to these taxpayers each year.

No change for confirmed identity theft victims

Taxpayers who are confirmed identity theft victims or who have filed an identity theft affidavit because of suspected stolen identity refund fraud will automatically receive an IP PIN via mail once their cases are resolved. Current tax-related identity theft victims who have been receiving IP PINs via mail will experience no change.

See IRS.gov/IPPIN for additional details.

IRS YouTube Video:

Get an Identity Protection PIN – English | Spanish

The IRS also encourages tax professionals and employers to share information with taxpayers about the availability of the IP PIN. Tax professionals and employers can print or email Publication 5367 or share IRS social media/e-poster products.

 

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2020 TAX SEASON STARTS FEB 12, 2021–EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will start on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns.

The Feb. 12 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to do additional programming and testing of IRS systems following the Dec. 27 tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact Payments and other benefits.

This programming work is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. If filing season were opened without the correct programming in place, then there could be a delay in issuing refunds to taxpayers. These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.

To speed refunds during the pandemic, the IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit as soon as they have the information they need. People can begin filing their tax returns immediately with tax software companies, including IRS Free File partners. These groups are starting to accept tax returns now, and the returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting Feb. 12.

“Planning for the nation’s filing season process is a massive undertaking, and IRS teams have been working non-stop to prepare for this as well as delivering Economic Impact Payments in record time,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Given the pandemic, this is one of the nation’s most important filing seasons ever. This start date will ensure that people get their needed tax refunds quickly while also making sure they receive any remaining stimulus payments they are eligible for as quickly as possible.”

Last year’s average tax refund was more than $2,500. More than 150 million tax returns are expected to be filed this year, with the vast majority before the Thursday, April 15 deadline.

Under the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds and claims from being issued, including to identity thieves.

The IRS anticipates a first week of March refund for many EITC and ACTC taxpayers if they file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns. This would be the same experience for taxpayers if the filing season opened in late January. Taxpayers will need to check Where’s My Refund for their personalized refund date.

 

Overall, the IRS anticipates nine out of 10 taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically with direct deposit if there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically. To avoid delays in processing, people should avoid filing paper returns wherever possible.

Tips for taxpayers to make filing easier

To speed refunds and help with their tax filing, the IRS urges people to follow these simple steps:

  • File electronically and use direct deposit for the quickest refunds.
  • Check IRS.gov for the latest tax information, including the latest on Economic Impact Payments. There is no need to call.
  • For those who may be eligible for stimulus payments, they should carefully review the guidelines for the Recovery Rebate Credit. Most people received Economic Impact Payments automatically, and anyone who received the maximum amount does not need to include any information about their payments when they file. However, those who didn’t receive a payment or only received a partial payment may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.  Tax preparation software, including IRS Free File, will help taxpayers figure the amount.
  • Remember, advance stimulus payments received separately are not taxable, and they do not reduce the taxpayer’s refund when they file in 2021.

Key filing season dates

There are several important dates taxpayers should keep in mind for this year’s filing season:

  • Jan. 15. IRS Free File opens. Taxpayers can begin filing returns through Free File partners; tax returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting Feb. 12. Tax software companies also are accepting tax filings in advance.
  • Jan. 29. Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day to raise awareness of valuable tax credits available to many people – including the option to use prior-year income to qualify.
  • Feb. 12. IRS begins 2021 tax season. Individual tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins.
  • Feb. 22. Projected date for the IRS.gov Where’s My Refund tool being updated for those claiming EITC and ACTC, also referred to as PATH Act returns.
  • First week of March. Tax refunds begin reaching those claiming EITC and ACTC (PATH Act returns) for those who file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns.
  • April 15. Deadline for filing 2020 tax returns.
  • Oct. 15. Deadline to file for those requesting an extension on their 2020 tax returns

Filing season opening

The filing season open follows IRS work to update its programming and test its systems to factor in the second Economic Impact Payments and other tax law changes. These changes are complex and take time to help ensure proper processing of tax returns and refunds as well as coordination with tax software industry, resulting in the February 12 start date.

The IRS must ensure systems are prepared to properly process and check tax returns to verify the proper amount of EIP’s are credited on taxpayer accounts – and provide remaining funds to eligible taxpayers.

Although tax seasons frequently begin in late January, there have been five instances since 2007 when filing seasons did not start for some taxpayers until February due to tax law changes made just before the start of tax time.