The IRS recently announced that severance payments are taxable wages under FICA, and thus employers who seek tax refunds on those payments will be denied. The IRS’s position reflects the United States Supreme Court’s ruling...more
The Supreme Court of the United States has decided in favor of the Internal Revenue Service in United States v. Quality Stores, Inc., holding that severance payments made pursuant to plans that did not tie payments to the...more
A disagreement between two federal appeals courts regarding whether payroll taxes must be paid on severance payments made to laid-off workers has landed the issue in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral arguments began...more
On October 1, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the federal government's appeal of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in United States v. Quality Stores, Inc. (In re Quality Stores, Inc.), 693 F.3d 605...more
I blogged about Quality Stores, a case in which the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that severance pay is not subject to FICA (Social Security) taxes if certain requirements are met: The severance payments must be made...more
As previously reported, the payment of certain severance benefits may be exempt from FICA taxes. Under the Sixth Circuit’s decision in Quality Stores, severance pay made in connection with an involuntary separation from...more
On September 7, 2012, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held in United States v. Quality Stores, Inc. that severance payments to former employees pursuant to an involuntary reduction in force are not taxable "wages" for...more
The year 2012 was quite an interesting one for tax controversy. Whereas 2011 brought a win for the Treasury on deference issues in Mayo Foundation for Medical Ed. v. United States, 131 S. Ct. 704 (2011), 2012 was the year...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently held that certain dismissal payments were Supplemental Unemployment Compensation Benefits (SUB) exempt from FICA taxes—a clear split with the U.S. Court of Appeals for...more
Any employer that implemented reductions in force or layoffs after 2008 should consider filing refund claims for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes paid on severance benefits based on a recent Sixth Circuit...more