(added November 17, 2021), Q13: I am an individual and SLFR Funds are being used to pay my overdue utility balance with my utility company. While the FAQ document will help to provide important information, there are a couple of areas it might be helpful to explain in this email. PANAMA CITY, Fla. Today, Governor Ron DeSantis handed disaster relief checks to educators in Bay County of up to $1,000 in recognition of their hard work to Teachers in some states have received stimulus checks worth up to $1,000 as lawmakers wanted to recognize their work during the Covid-19 pandemic Credit: Getty. An official website of the United States Government. While this appropriation is limited to child care/early learning instructors, you are encouraged to use a portion of your Phase V grants and future grants to ensure that these valued staff members receive the compensation and resources they need and deserve. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning instructors affected by COVID in Specific Appropriation #80B of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Chapter 2021-036, Laws of Florida). Nonetheless, a taxpayer who reasonably and in good faith relies on these FAQs will not be subject to a penalty that provides a reasonable cause standard for relief, including a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalty, to the extent that reliance results in an underpayment of tax. WebThe Division launched two application cycles for Child Care and Early Learning Instructor Disaster Relief Payments. We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping any correspondence that arrives with your check and the importance of discussing these funds with a tax professional, said spokesperson Joni Branch. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our teachers and school leaders Florida succeeded where so many other states failed. While in general payments made by states are includable in income for federal tax purposes, there are exceptions that would apply to many of the payments made by states in 2022. Premium pay amounts paid to employees are considered wages. Florida's Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) using Star Early Literacy, Gold Seal Quality Care Program for Parents, Florida's Early Learning & Development Standards, Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five. I applaud Floridas teachers for stepping up and giving students the ability to learn in-person, from the classroom. They have had to make so many adjustments and have worked so hard to make sure every child has a chance to learn. Eligible Individuals: The following persons are eligible for a $1,000 payment under Senate Bill %PDF-1.5 % I cant thank them enough for their dedication and commitment to their students., Today I stand with Governor DeSantis in our commitment to Florida educators to recognize their hard work and dedication to our students, said House Speaker Chris Sprowls. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. A qualified disaster relief payment does not constitute wages subject to income tax withholding and social security tax. 198 0 obj <>stream In general, individuals must include in gross income any payment or accession to wealth from any source unless an exclusion applies. (How to qualify for automatic student loan forgiveness). The Division launched two application cycles for Child Care and Early Learning Instructor Disaster Relief Payments. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our teachers and school leaders Florida succeeded where so many other states failed. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Today, Governor DeSantis handed out the first of nearly 177,000 Disaster Relief Payments of up to $1,000 to Floridas educators in recognition of their hard work to educate students in the 2020-2021 school year. These payments are provided to qualified instructors in recognition of their continuing service and dedication to Floridas children and families. Overall, 68 of Floridas 74 school districts (92 percent) now have a starting salary of $40,000 or higher. A spokesperson for Floridas Department of Economic Opportunity said the state had, in fact, designated these payments as qualified disaster relief. Considering how challenging the past year was for teachers, we knew it was important to recognize and reward them for their hard work, said Governor Ron DeSantis. But theres still one question our VERIFY team continues to get: Will taxes be owed on these payments? Additionally, payments made to or for the benefit of an individual are not treated as qualified disaster relief payments to the extent the expense of the individual compensated by such payment is otherwise compensated for by insurance or otherwise. A5: Yes, you must include the payment in gross income. Florida was the first state to reopen and ensure in-person instruction would be made available to parents five days a week. More than 75,000 instructors received a $1,000 check in the These heroes are the backbone of our communities and today the Governor sent a clear message that Florida loves and appreciates their hard work and dedication. Thank you Governor Ron DeSantis for these bonuses., We are so proud of the work our teachers have done over the last year, innovating every step of the way, saidSenator Kelli Stargel. Additionally, payments made to or for the benefit of an individual are not treated as qualified disaster relief payments to the extent the expense of the individual compensated by such payment is otherwise compensated for by insurance or otherwise. Salaries for the Disaster Relief will be influenced by many factors. Having great teachers makes a difference. See section 139(c). My thanks also go to Speaker Sprowls, Senate President Simpson, Senator Stargel, and Representative Trumbull for their leadership during the 2021 legislative session to make this funding a reality., Governor DeSantis has proven once again that Florida is the Education State,said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. Therefore, the payments will not have income tax or employer taxes withheld. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. A4: Yes, you must include the payment in gross income as compensation for services. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity THE ANSWER No, teachers and first responders will not owe taxes on their $1,000 COVID-19 bonuses because the checks The IRS is also taking an additional step to help those who paid these penalties already. Determining whether payments qualify for these exceptions is a complex fact intensive inquiry that depends on a number of considerations. Because these FAQs have not been published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin, they will not be relied on or used by the IRS to resolve a case. The payment is meant to encourage individuals to return to work after state/local COVID-19 restrictions lapse. The checks are classified as disaster relief payments, rather than bonuses, so taxes will not be withheld, according to the state. Each qualifying family receives a flat amount under the program. I cant thank them enough for their hard work and dedication during this school year and these bonuses are a small way to say thank you on behalf of our state. (added November 17, 2021), Q7: My state/local government is using SLFR Funds to provide a direct cash transfer to families. Each qualifying family receives a flat amount under the program. I thank Governor DeSantis for his leadership throughout these challenging times and for putting families first as we work together to move Florida forward., Dedicated teachers across Florida have gone above and beyond over the last 18 months to make certain our students have every opportunity to continue to make learning gains in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic,said Senate President Wilton Simpson. 176 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<24389A942DF79F4683FB03427EC59750>]/Index[152 47]/Info 151 0 R/Length 115/Prev 149642/Root 153 0 R/Size 199/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream FLORIDA, USA If youre a qualifying teacher or first responder you shouldve received your $1,000 pandemic bonus check by now. If the payment is a refund of state taxes paid and either the recipient claimed the standard deduction or itemized their deductions but did not receive a tax benefit (for example, because the $10,000 tax deduction limit applied) the payment is not included in income for federal tax purposes. of Education 2023 . Under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code, qualified disaster relief payments are generally not gross income for tax purposes and are not reportable as income on a federal income tax return. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. WebTallahassee, Fla. Today, Governor DeSantis handed out the first of nearly 177,000 Disaster Relief Payments of up to $1,000 to Floridas educators in recognition of their hard work to educate students in the 2020-2021 school year. Persons using TTY/TDD equipment may reach voice telephone numbers on this website via the Florida Relay Service at 711. The application for the second payment opens Saturday, January 1, 2022. If I pay such a cash bonus to my employees, must I withhold income and employment taxes on that payment? Public school teachers and principals in Florida will receive $1,000 bonuses, Gov. These payments are made by a state/local government to individuals and are intended to pay for personal expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, a qualified disaster. If you do not receive an invite by Wednesday, July 7, 2021, please email disasterrelief@oel.myflorida.com or call toll-free at 1-833-258-6735. 33134 - Phone: (305) 646-7220 If I receive such a payment, must I include the amount in my gross income? Full-time K-12 classroom teachers employed in a district or at a charter school as of June 2, 2021, or on the last day of school; Certified prekindergarten teachers employed in a district or at a charter school as of June 2, 2021, or on the last day of school, and who are funded by the Florida Education Finance Plan (FEFP); and. (added November 17, 2021), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Frequently asked questions forstates and local governments on taxability and reporting of payments from Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Under section 139 of the Code, certain payments made by a state or local government to individuals in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic may be qualified disaster relief payments that are excluded from the recipient's gross income. Section 80B in the GAA provides: The funds provided in Specific Appropriation 80B are provided to the Office of Early Learning to administer two bonuses to Floridas child care and early learning instructors totaling a net amount of $1,000 each. A9: No, this payment is not included in gross income. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning I would like to thank Governor DeSantis and Speaker Sprowls for their tireless leadership in securing this well-deserved $1,000 bonus for the heroes in Floridas classrooms., Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis. hb```@(9 2L7?dqIa```h`h6&=ab@, e`tg[/$ fu4LLo1a8t )w@bg`f 6f 4#Y F}# The payment is available to an eligible individual after he or she completes four weeks of paid employment. The designation allows first responders to receive the full $1,000 without employment taxes having to be withheld, which is allowable under Section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code, spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in an email to 10 Tampa Bay. WebNatural Disaster Contact Information for Higher Education Students and Student Loan Borrowers. BAKER COUNTY (CBSMiami) It's official. See section 139(b). (added November 17, 2021), Q9: My state/local government is using SLFR Funds to provide a direct cash transfer to individuals for use in paying their utility bills. I cant thank them enough for their hard work and dedication during this school year and these bonuses are a small way to say thank you on behalf of our state. The law also requires that any money left in the disaster relief payment fund at the close of the 2022-2023 fiscal year be returned to the General Fund. Teachers are the heart of our community and have always gone above and beyond to put the needs of students first. (added November 17, 2021), Q6: I am an employer who received a grant from my state/local government to be used to pay new employees a cash bonus. During the 2021 Legislative Session, Governor Ron DeSantis worked with the Legislature to secure $1,000 disaster relief payments for educators by appropriating funding through the General Appropriations Act (GAA). This means that, in determining the amount of federal income tax to withhold from wages, the employer should apply the entries on the employee's Form W-4 according to the procedures detailed in Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, to determine the amount of federal income tax to withhold from premium pay. A payment that is in the nature of compensation for services, even a one-time payment, is not excludable as a qualified disaster relief payment under section 139 of the Code. DeSantis called for $422 million in bonuses for teachers who receive a highly effective rating that's up from $234 million this year. Teachers and principals may also be eligible for disaster relief payments of up to $1,000. More information on withholding federal income tax, social security tax, and Medicare tax can be found in Publication 15. Similarly, if an FAQ turns out to be an inaccurate statement of the law as applied to a particular taxpayer's case, the law will control the taxpayer's tax liability. A Form 1099-MISC reporting the payment would be required if the payment constituted income to the recipient. These FAQs were announced in IR-2021-231. A Form 1099-MISC reporting the payment would be required if the payment constituted income to the beneficiary. Floridas teachers deserve this recognition and I am grateful for our Governors leadership and his commitment to rewarding them., Thank you to Governor DeSantis, Senate President Simpson, Speaker Sprowls and the entire legislative body for recognizing the outstanding work of our educators and administrators, said Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Grego. Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning instructors affected by COVID in Specific Appropriation #80B of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Chapter 2021-036, Laws of Florida). Over the past year, minimum pay for Floridas teachers increased by an average of $6,000 from $40,000 to $46,000. Thank you to the Florida Legislature for heeding the Governors request to prioritize our states educators., CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronissaid, Since day one, Floridas teachers and first responders have been on the frontlines of the pandemic, working tirelessly to protect our communities and care for our students. The SLFR Funds provide substantial flexibility for each government to meet local needsincluding support for households and individuals hardest hit by the crisis. While other states kept their schools closed, Florida opened them up and allowed students to return to normalcy. These investments include $550 million to continue elevating minimum teacher salaries, as well as $215 million to provide all of Floridas eligible public school principals Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure youre on a .gov or .mil site Employers generally must withhold federal income tax as well as social security tax and Medicare tax from employees' wages. 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