IRS Extends Tax Treatment for Leave-Based Donation Programs for COVID-19 Relief Through the End of 2021

To enable employees to help victims of the pandemic, employers may establish leave-based donation programs for making cash contributions to charitable organizations described in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code).

A little more than one year ago, the IRS released Notice 2020-46, detailing such leave-based donation programs and providing guidance on the federal income and employment tax treatment of the value of employees' donated leave. While the guidance in Notice 2020-46 expired on December 31, 2020, the IRS recently released Notice 2021-42, which retroactively extends the federal income and employment tax treatment described in Notice 2020-46 to qualifying contributions made prior to January 1, 2022.

Tax Treatment of Forgone Leave

Under leave-based donation programs, employees can elect to forgo vacation, sick, or personal leave in exchange for their employer making a cash payment to a charitable organization providing aid to victims of COVID-19. Pursuant to Notice 2020-46 and Notice 2021-42, these cash payments will not be treated as wages or otherwise be included in the gross income of the employees if the payments are:

• 1. Made to a charitable organization described in Section 170(c) of the Code providing relief to victims of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States or the five U.S. territories covered by federal major disaster declarations, and
• 2. Paid to such Section 170(c) charitable organization before January 1, 2022.

Accordingly, employers should not include these payments in Box 1, 3 (if applicable), or 5 of the Form W-2 for employees who elect to forgo their vacation, sick, or personal leave under these leave-based donation programs.

Tax Treatment of Charitable Contributions

Employees who elect to forgo their leave under these leave-based donation programs may not claim a charitable contribution deduction under Code Section 170 for the value of the donated leave. Employers, however, may deduct cash payments made under these leave-based donation programs under Code Section 170 (as a charitable contribution) or Code Section 162 (as a business expense), provided the requirements for such deductions are otherwise met.

The facts, laws, and regulations regarding COVID-19 are developing rapidly. Since the date of publication, there may be new or additional information not referenced in this advisory. Please consult with your legal counsel for guidance.

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