New Paid Family Leave Tax Credit
The recently-enacted Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) includes a provision that eases the burden for employers who adopt paid family and medical leave policies. The Tax Act added a new federal tax credit available through 2019 to employers that adopt a paid family and medical leave policy to all of their “qualifying employees”. The credit is available only if the employer pays its qualifying employees at least 50% of their regular compensation during the leave period. In addition, the policy must provide for at least two weeks of paid leave for a full-time employee, with a reduced period required for part-time employees. The specifics of the credit are a bit too complicated to detail in a blog post, so if you already have paid family leave in place, or you are considering implementing one, be sure to consult with your tax attorneys.