As 2020 winds to a close, we have seen many beneficial programs provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). While most media coverage has focused on loans to employers such as PPP and EIDL, it is important to remember some of the lesser covered programs also included in the tax relief programs. In fact, eligible businesses may qualify to get cash back in some instances.
The employee retention credit (ERC) under the CARES Act offers a refundable payroll tax credit for certain wages and health plan expenses paid by businesses during the economic hardship. However, many business owners have uncertainty as to how to qualify when they have also received a PPP loan.
The paid sick leave and paid family medical leave credits also offer a refundable tax credit for qualifying wages and Medicare tax and health plan expenses.
These refundable tax credits are stackable for maximum benefit when used correctly. Read on to discover how to qualify.

What Do You Ask Indie Game Developers at Tax Interviews?
When you take on a new client, the tax interview is one of the most crucial elements of ensuring that their tax documents are prepared correctly. Both individual and business clients should provide you with a road map for their current tax situation, what they expect it to look like in the near future, and how your tax planning and preparation skills will help them with their business or financial goals. To focus specifically on business clients, questionnaires that the client fills out beforehand can efficiently cut down on facetime. This allows you more time to ask focused questions and learn about your client’s business needs and environment. But if your client is a game developer, specifically an indie game developer, there’s some nuanced questions you should ask in person or as an addendum to your questionnaire after you’ve read about the basics of doing business with game developers.


