Wait a minute, you say it’s almost May? When did that happen?

In some ways, many have expressed how every day feels the same. At the same time, though, that monochromatic blur is passing quicker than we realize. After all, and leaving the politics and decision-making of it aside, we are seeing some states start to reopen this week, so we actually may be slowly moving into some of the next stages of these unprecedented times.

In some ways, that just feels good. No matter what our lives were like before, I think everyone is missing something. It is different things for different people, but we all yearn for something that is not currently available or at least is not the same as it used to be. In other ways, this feels scary, and I think it is impossible for it not to. This comes out of wanting to do things the right way and make sure that we continue to take our forward steps without going so far that we then have to run backward again.

As we start to look toward those times, though, it can be good to take stock of how you have spent these last few weeks. Hopefully, you can look on it and see some positives, feeling good about things you have accomplished. Even if these things are not grand (and that is understandable, as many of us needed to just feel like we had steady ground beneath us), they are still worthy of being appreciated.

If you do not feel enough has happened, though, it may be time to start doing a little more. Just as it felt overwhelming to jump into lockdown mode, there Is also the chance of being overwhelmed by getting out of it. I mean, there are many families that are going to be stuck navigating returning to work with kids who cannot return to school, certainly not an easy proposition. It is a good idea to get as much in order as you can before those times come.

This means I must give a reminder that although everyone gained an extra three months to file their taxes, it is almost May. July 15th may come quicker than it felt like it could have four to six weeks ago. So even if you have not been able to have an in-person meeting with us, still contact us, we can find a way to get a move on this. Make it be one of those things you can knock off the eventual to-do list so that that list shrinks and does not feel like an obstacle as we keep moving forward.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Every bit of good news seems to be countered during these times. Yes, the IRS has started sending out economic impact payments, but there are still many people wondering where their money is. Yes, there was a big chunk of money set aside for the Paycheck Protection Program, but that was rapidly used up and now Congress is working to potentially put some more money into the program (which does thankfully look like it will be passed by the end of the week).

As for the first part, if you want to hear about some of the issues with rolling out the individual payouts, this article on USA Today gives a pretty full overview of the situation. As fair warning, there’s not much good news in it, though. If you are someone who wants to know when to expect your payment, you can use the IRS’s get my payment tool here to possibly get information. If that doesn’t help you much, though, the agency also has a pretty good FAQ page that could help you better understand your situation.

Then there was the rollout for the PPP that felt difficult from the start as guidance came from the federal government late the night before loan applications were supposed to begin. That meant not every financial institution was immediately ready for those applications, which looms large now that the $349 billion pot sounded big to start but did not last long. And then one can start to question if the money was given in accordance with what felt like the spirit of the program, as highlighted in this CNN article.  Again, that link comes with the warning that that news doesn’t feel all too good, either.

With all that being said, it’s time for some good news. In fact, it’s time to give lots of good news, because we need that large of a dose. This then is me letting everyone know about the website goodnewsnetwork.org. And granted, a lot of the news still circulates around COVID-19 (but not all if you do need a complete break – and take that break if it is necessary), but it does show the good we can do as human beings when faced with some of the most trying of circumstances.

So here is to hoping you feel the pull of some of that good in this time that can feel like a tug of war.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Hopefully by the time you read this, people will have begun to receive deposits into their bank account as part of the stimulus package the federal government has passed due to the coronavirus. It is going to be a welcome arrival for many who are very much in need of those funds to help get them try to get through to the end of this crisis.

The IRS is also making some good moves to help these payments get to the most people in the quickest way possible. The agency has set up a webpage where you can check the state of your payment (though as most things these days, it does say it could take a waiting period to access with heavy traffic). This will also allow you to update direct deposit information if the IRS did not have it or update an address if you are going to be expecting to receive your money by paper check.

In addition, that webpage also includes a place for people who did not file taxes in 2018 or 2019, yet are still eligible for the economic impact payment, to enter information that will help them get their payments.

Another bit of relief granted by the agency was the extension of the tax filing deadline until July 15. That was clear cut for many, but still led to some murkiness, such as some people being in a spot where it looked like they might have to pay their estimated taxes for the second quarter of this year before they had to pay those for the first quarter.

I don’t want to spend too much time here going deep into what are the deadlines and for what situations, but if your situation is not clear enough that ‘July 15’ answers all the questions, the IRS has a good question-and-answer page set up here.

I would like to spend more time, however, with a final note of good wishes. So much has changed so fast for so many. We certainly felt that around here over the last couple of weeks with various clients trying to figure out what they needed to apply for, and how to apply for, much of the stimulus relief that the government passed. But even in that madness is hope that help is being offered and will be received.

Hopefully some of that calm is starting to bleed through in your personal life, as well. Sure, those who celebrate Easter may not have done so in their traditional manner this past weekend, but I hope there was still some a of strength and peace that could be reached within it.

There has been a lot of talk of getting to out ‘new normal,’ which is not a term I’m particularly fond of, for I hope this is an aberration instead of any dose of normality. But we should be proud and hold on to the moments we find where we are able to still be (or at least be close to) our true selves. So this is a wish that those moments are starting to come more frequently and starting to feel easier to capture. 

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

In times of tragedy and crisis, you tend to see both the best and worst in humanity. So of course, we are seeing this play out now.

Last week, the IRS sent out a release about new scams trying to target people during this time by tapping into people’s hopes and needs for an economic impact payment or regular tax refund. Instead of going deep into the tactics here, just let it be known that the IRS is scrambling as a rule to do its duties (as we all are really) and getting people’s information so that those taxpayers can get money is not one of them.

As a rule, most scams involving fraudsters posing as IRS employees play on people’s fears. Fear of an audit is bad enough, never mind the universal fears we are all currently trying to traverse. And as it turns out, it’s not only tax scams that are out there trying to take advantage of those fears. This link will lead to more on that if you want to read it, but if you don’t need more bad news simply ignore it and let’s move on from here.

Now let’s move into the good, for there are lots of those stories amid the awful ones. Those little lights of hope (or even distraction) can feel huge, as well, so I wanted to try to provide some of those here.

So if you are stuck inside with your family and it is difficult to find something that everyone wants to watch on TV, Cirque du Soleil has released an hour-long collection onto YouTube that will hopefully work in most households.

John Krasinski has embraced the need for this type of feeling with his “Some Good News” YouTube channel. And he deserves extra credit for getting the original Hamilton cast together to overwhelm a young fan via Zoom. I am sorry if this requires some tissues, for yes, I am aware that paper products can be of high value during this time.

Finally, if instead you need a little fun escape after the kids go to bed, let’s go across the Atlantic. There we find Jimmy Carr, the host of various forms of England’s Big Fat Quiz, who has begun The Little Tiny Quiz of the Lockdown on YouTube, which has different videos for both the questions and answers allowing for some friendly competition as everyone prepares their answers. (And nothing here is visually explicit, just some language and jokes that may be better if the kids are in bed.)

But overall, wherever you find it, may you be uncovering some of your own happy gems.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
Connect to Us ~ Facebook ~ Twitter