Find news and information for the executive corporate security director, CSO, facility manager and assets protection manager on issues of policy, products, incidents, risk management, threat assessments and preparedness.
Issue link: http://sdi.epubxp.com/i/209760
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT By Mark Battersby A Small Business Advantage in OBAMACARE An often-overlooked tax benefit in the Affordable Care Act can help SMBs offer health insurance S urvey after survey reveals that health insurance is among the top fringe benefits sought by employees. For many security dealers and integration businesses, offering health insurance is critical to attracting the kind of workers they need for success. Fortunately, whether the business presently offers health insurance or is merely considering offering it, there is a small silver lining in the form of a unique, often-overlooked tax credit for small employers that will be increased by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — otherwise known as Obamacare. As the tax deadline approaches for many small security businesses, owners and managers are looking for ways to reduce tax bills. Although the ACA does not require that a business provide health insurance, it does offer tax credits for eligible small businesses that provide insurance to their employees for the first time, or maintain the coverage they already have. The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging small businesses to explore and, if qualified, claim this unique health insurance coverage tax credit. In 2011, two out of every five U.S. businesses qualified for these tax credits; thus, this could affect 19.3 million employees and possibly provide $15.4 billion in tax credits to small businesses. In fact, many small businesses with 25 or fewer employees are already taking advantage of this new tax credit — a direct reduction of their tax bill of up to 35 percent of their health insurance costs. Beginning in 2014, this tax credit will go up to 50 percent. The Small Employer Credit A security dealer, reseller or integration business that provides healthcare coverage is eligible for 46 the Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit if, for the tax year, they have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees who are paid an average annual salary of less than $50,000. The lower the average salary and the fewer FTEs the business has, the higher the tax credit. The maximum credit is 35 percent this year, and it rises to 50 percent of the annual premium paid for 2014 and thereafter. The IRS recently proposed guidelines for the small employer tax credit created by the ACA. Among other things, the guidelines address the eligibility requirements for employers to claim the credit, provide guidance on how to calculate and claim the credit, and explain the effect on estimated tax, alternative minimum tax and, of course, tax deductions. Under the guidelines, to take advantage of this tax credit, small employers (those with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees) must have in place a contribution arrangement through which the security dealer can make a non-elective contribution on behalf of each employee who enrolls in a qualified health plan (QHP) offered by the employer. The contribution amount must be at least 50 percent of the QHP's premium cost. In addition, the average annual wages of the employer's FTEs cannot currently exceed $50,000. The IRS has said certain higher-income individuals — specifically, sole proprietors, partners in partnerships, or shareholders owning more than 2 percent of the stock in an S corporation and any owners of more than 5 percent of other businesses — do not have to be counted as employees when calculating the average wage. Although the tax law does not specifically refer to spouses, the IRS says www.SecurityInfoWatch.com | SD&I; | November 2013