The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 and Other COVID-Related Tax Provisions in P.L. 116-260

The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 and Other COVID-Related Tax Provisions in P.L. 116-260

The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020
and Other COVID-Related Tax Provisions in
P.L. 116-260
January 5, 2021
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R46649

link to page 4 link to page 9 link to page 11 link to page 11 link to page 13 link to page 13 link to page 14 The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Contents
Tables
Table 1. Provisions in the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020.......................................... 2
Table 2. Estimated Cost of the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 ................................... 7
Table 3. COVID-Related Provisions in Division EE of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021 .................................................................................................................... 9
Table 4. Estimated Cost of COVID-Related Tax Relief in the Taxpayer Certainty and
Disaster Relief Act of 2020 .......................................................................................... 11

Contacts
Author Information ....................................................................................................... 12

Congressional Research Service

link to page 4 link to page 9 link to page 11 link to page 13 The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

ongress continues to consider tax policy proposals intended to al eviate the economic
effects associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The
C Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) contains a number of individual
and business tax provisions.
Consideration of P.L. 116-260 followed the enactment of other laws addressing the COVID-19
crisis: (1) the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
(P.L. 116-123); (2) the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA; P.L. 116-127); (3) the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136);1 and (4) the
Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-139).
Other pandemic-related tax policy proposals were considered in the 116th Congress, but not
enacted. In the House, tax relief was also considered in the Heroes Act (H.R. 8406, adopted as
H.R. 925; H.R. 6800).2 Legislation introduced in the Senate (the American Workers, Families,
and Employers Assistance Act [S. 4318]; the Supporting America’s Restaurant Workers Act [S.
4319]; and the Restoring Critical Supply Chains and Intel ectual Property Act [S. 4324]) would
have provided tax relief intended to al eviate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.3
The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 was enacted as Subtitle B to Title II of Division N of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Much of the COVID-19 tax relief provided in P.L.
116-260 appears in this act. Its provisions are summarized in Table 1 with other selected COVID-
19-related tax provisions. The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimated that the COVID-
Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 would reduce federal revenue by $167.3 bil ion from FY2021
through FY2030 (Table 2).4
The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted as Division EE of P.L. 116-
260, contains numerous additional tax provisions. Many of the provisions extend expiring
provisions or are related to disaster relief.5 Several of the provisions in Title II of Division EE of
P.L. 116-260 are related to previous or proposed COVID-19 tax relief and are summarized in
Table 3. JCT revenue estimates for these provisions are included in Table 4.

1 For more on tax provisions in the CARES Act, see CRS Report R46279, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act—Tax Relief for Individuals and Businesses, coordinated by Molly F. Sherlock. For more on
other CARES Act provisions, see CRS Report R46299, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Econom ic Security (CARES) Act:
CRS Experts, by William L. Painter and Diane P. Horn.
2 For more information on tax provisions in the Heroes Act, see CRS Report R46358, Heroes Act: Revenue Provisions,
coordinated by Molly F. Sherlock.
3 For more information on the Senate proposals, see CRS Report R46470, The American Workers, Families, and
Em ployers Assistance Act (S. 4318): Title II—Revenue Provisions and Other “HEALS Act” Tax Provisions,
coordinated by Molly F. Sherlock.
4 Joint Committee on T axation, “Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions Contained in Rules Committee
Print 116-68, the ‘Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,’” JCX-24-20, December 21, 2020.
5 For more information on expiring provisions or “tax extenders,” see CRS Report R46627, Tax Provisions Expiring in
2020 (“Tax Extenders”), by Molly F. Sherlock, by Molly F. Sherlock. For more information on disaster tax relief, see
CRS Report R45864, Tax Policy and Disaster Recovery, by Molly F. Sherlock and Jennifer T eefy .
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The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Table 1. Provisions in the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020
Section Title
Description
CRS Resources
Additional 2020
Enacts additional direct payments for individuals.
For background, see
recovery rebates for
These payments are structured as refundable tax

CRS Insight IN11513, COVID-
individuals
credits against 2020 income taxes. The IRS wil
19 and Direct Payments to
general y use information from 2019 income tax
Individuals: Comparison of Recent
returns to issue the payments as soon as possible,
Proposals for a Second Round of
with a deadline of January 15, 2021. Eligible
Payments, by Margot L.
individuals who do not receive a payment by that
Crandal -Hol ick.
date wil receive the credit when they file their
2020 income tax return.
 CRS Report R46415, CARES Act
(P.L. 116-136) Direct Payments:
Payments are $600 per eligible individual ($1,200
Resources and Experts,
for married joint filers), and $600 for each eligible
coordinated by Margot L.
dependent.
Crandal -Hol ick.
The payment phases out at a rate of $5 per $100

of income above $75,000 ($112,500 for head of

CRS Insight IN11282, COVID-19
and Direct Payments to
household filers, $150,000 for married joint filers
Individuals: Summary of the 2020
or a surviving spouse).
Recovery Rebates/Economic
Eligible taxpayers who file as single or head of
Impact Payments in the CARES
household must provide a Social Security Number
Act (P.L. 116-136), by Margot L.
(SSN) in order to receive a payment. Married joint
Crandal -Hol ick.
filers must provide an SSN for at least one spouse.

For joint filers where one spouse provides an SSN

CRS Insight IN11234, Tax Cuts
and the other spouse provides an Individual
as Fiscal Stimulus: Comparing a
Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), the
Payrol Tax Cut to a One-Time
payment amount is $600 rather than $1,200.
Tax Rebate, by Mol y F.
Individuals must also provide the SSNs of their
Sherlock and Donald J.
qualifying children in order to receive the
Marples.
additional $600 per child.
 CRS Report RS21126, Tax Cuts
These payments are general y exempt from
and Economic Stimulus: How
reduction for debts owed to or col ected by
Effective Are the Alternatives?, by
governmental agencies (including past-due child
Jane G. Gravel e.
support) and private/commercial debts.

For eligible individuals who did not file a 2019
income tax return and who received Social
Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
Railroad Retirement, or Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) benefits, Treasury is directed to issue
payments based on information provided by the
Social Security Administration or VA.
Clarifies that if a direct payment for a specified
Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement, or VA
beneficiary was deposited into the account of a
representative payee (“payee”) or fiduciary, it shal
be used only for the benefit of the entitled
beneficiary. The payee and fiduciary enforcement
provisions would apply as under current law.
Directs Treasury to conduct outreach to other
eligible nonfilers.
Requires Treasury to report on the use of funds
to carry out the payments.
If a taxpayer receives a larger advanced credit in
2020 than they were eligible for on their 2020
income tax return, they general y would not be
required to pay back the difference. If an individual
received an advanced payment less than what they
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The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Section Title
Description
CRS Resources
were eligible for on their 2020 income tax return,
they could claim the difference on that return
(filed in 2021).
Payments are made to the possessions (e.g.,
Puerto Rico) to provide funding for rebates.
Amendments to
Amendment to the CARES Act recovery rebates
For background, see
recovery rebates
to specify that the income level for the phaseout

CRS Report R46415, CARES
under the CARES
for joint returns also applies to surviving spouses.
Act (P.L. 116-136) Direct
Act
The amendment clarifies that if a CARES Act
Payments: Resources and
direct payment for a specified Social Security, SSI,
Experts, coordinated by Margot
Railroad Retirement, or VA beneficiary was
L. Crandal -Hol ick.
deposited into the account of a representative

payee (“payee”) or fiduciary, it shal be used only

CRS Insight IN11282, COVID-
19 and Direct Payments to
for the benefit of the entitled beneficiary. The
Individuals: Summary of the
payee and fiduciary enforcement provisions would
2020 Recovery
apply as under current law.
Rebates/Economic Impact
Amends the CARES Act to al ow married joint
Payments in the CARES Act (P.L.
filers in which one spouse provided an ITIN to
116-136), by Margot L.
retroactively receive the CARES Act direct
Crandal -Hol ick.
payment. The amendment would al ow these

couples to receive a payment of $1,200, plus the
additional $500 per qualifying child. Under the
CARES Act, married joint filers were ineligible
unless they provided an SSN for both spouses.
Extension of certain
Employees whose employers deferred individual
For background, see
deferred payrol
payrol tax obligations are given an extended

CRS Insight IN11488, COVID-
taxes
repayment period. The period in which deferred
19: Presidential Order Deferring
payrol taxes are to be ratably repaid is extended
Individual Payrol Taxes, by Mol y
from January 1, 2021, through April 30, 2021, to
F. Sherlock and Donald J.
January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
Marples.
Regulations or
Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to provide

guidance clarifying
regulations or guidance clarifying that expenditures
application of
on personal protective equipment, disinfectant,
educator expense
and other supplies used in the prevention of
tax deduction
COVID-19 are tax-deductible educator expenses.
Clarification of tax
Clarifies that expenses paid out of forgiven loans
For background, see
treatment of
under the Payment Protection Program that are

CRS Insight IN11378, IRS
forgiveness of
excluded from income would be deductible. This
Guidance Says No Deduction Is
covered loans
section reverses recent IRS guidance (Notice
Al owed for Business Expenses
2020-32) that held these expenses were not
Paid with Forgiven PPP Loans, by
deductible. It also clarifies the language in the
Sean Lowry and Jane G.
CARES Act relating to exclusion of loan
Gravel e.
forgiveness from income.

CRS Report R46284, COVID-19
Relief Assistance to Smal
Businesses: Issues and Policy
Options, by Robert Jay Dilger,
Bruce R. Lindsay, and Sean
Lowry.
Emergency financial
Students who receive emergency qualified financial
For background, see
aid grants
aid grants are not required to include such grants

CRS Report R41967, Higher
in gross income for tax purposes. Qualified
Education Tax Benefits: Brief
financial aid grants are defined as grants awarded
Overview and Budgetary Effects,
under Sections 3504 and 18004 of the CARES Act
by Margot L. Crandal -Hol ick.
and any other emergency financial aid grant made
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The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Section Title
Description
CRS Resources
to a student from a federal agency, a state, an

CRS In Focus IF11497, CARES
Indian tribe, an institution of higher education, or a
Act Higher Education Provisions,
scholarship-granting organization for purposes of
coordinated by Cassandria
providing financial relief to students enrol ed at
Dortch.
institutions of higher education in response to a

qualifying emergency.

CRS Report R46506, The
Heroes Act: Education-Related
Provisions, coordinated by
Cassandria Dortch.

Clarification of tax
Clarifies that expenses paid out of forgiven loans
For background, see
treatment of certain
and grants under other programs, including

CRS Insight IN11378, IRS
loan forgiveness and
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Grants
Guidance Says No Deduction Is
other business
for Shuttered Venue Operators, are deductible,
Al owed for Business Expenses
financial assistance
while the forgiven loans are excluded from
Paid with Forgiven PPP Loans, by
under the CARES
income.
Sean Lowry and Jane G.
Act
Gravel e.

CRS Report R46284, COVID-19
Relief Assistance to Small
Businesses: Issues and Policy
Options, by Robert Jay Dilger,
Bruce R. Lindsay, and Sean
Lowry.

CRS Insight IN11370, SBA EIDL
and Emergency EIDL Grants for
COVID-19, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
Authority to waive
Provides authority for the Secretary of the

certain information-
Treasury to waive information-reporting
reporting
requirements for forgiven loans or grants that are
requirements
excluded from income.
Application of special
The CARES Act al owed a series of special rules
For background, see
rules to money
for the use of retirement plan funds for

CRS In Focus IF11482,
purchase pension
coronavirus-affected individuals. This provision
Retirement and Pension
plans
al ows in-service distributions from money
Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid,
purchase plans to be treated as coronavirus-
Relief, and Economic Security Act
related distributions and is effective retroactively
(CARES Act), by John J.
as if included in the CARES Act.
Topoleski and Elizabeth A.

Myers.
Election to waive
Al ows farmers who elected a two-year net
For background, see
application of certain
operating loss (NOL) carryback prior to the

CRS Insight IN11296, Tax
modifications to
CARES Act to elect to retain that two-year
Treatment of Net Operating
farming losses
carryback rather than claim the five-year carryback
Losses (NOLs) in the Coronavirus
provided in the CARES Act.
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act, by Jane G.
Gravel e.

CRS Insight IN11240, COVID-
19: Potential Role of Net
Operating Loss (NOL) Carrybacks
in Addressing the Economic
Effects, by Mark P. Keightley.
Oversight and audit
Adds the Senate Committee on Finance and the
For background, see
reporting
House Committee on Ways and Means to the list

CRS Report R46315,
of appropriate congressional committees for the
Congressional Oversight
purposes of receiving briefings from the
Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid,
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The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Section Title
Description
CRS Resources
Comptrol er General related to oversight and
Relief, and Economic Security
audit of COVID-19 recovery efforts.
(CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), by
Ben Wilhelm and Wil iam T.
Egar.
Disclosures to
Modifies Section 6103(k) of the Internal Revenue
For background, see
identify tax
Code (IRC), which provides for disclosure of

CRS In Focus IF10339, The
receivables not
certain tax returns and return information for
Internal Revenue Service’s Private
eligible for col ection
administrative purposes, to al ow for disclosure of
Tax Debt Col ection Program, by
pursuant to qualified
certain taxpayer information to the Social Security
Gary Guenther.
tax col ection
Administration to identify tax receivables not
contracts
eligible for col ection because substantial y al of

CRS In Focus IF10506, Social
the taxpayer’s income consists of disability
Security Disability Insurance
insurance benefits under Section 223 of the Social
(SSDI), by Wil iam R. Morton.
Security Act or supplemental security income

CRS In Focus IF10482,
benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.
Supplemental Security Income
Section 1205 of the Taxpayer First Act (P.L. 116-
(SSI), by Wil iam R. Morton.
25) provides that individuals whose income is
primarily derived from Supplemental Social
Security (SSI) and Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) benefits be excluded from the
IRS private debt col ection program beginning on
January 1, 2021.
Modification of
Modifies Section 6103 of the IRC, which provides
For background, see
certain protections
rules pertaining to confidentiality of tax returns, to

CRS Report R44503, Federal
for taxpayer return
al ow higher education institutions to designate a
Student Aid: Need Analysis
information
contractor to receive tax return information on
Formulas and Expected Family
behalf of such institutions and to revise rules
Contribution, by Benjamin
regarding disclosed return information for the
Col ins.
purpose of carrying out the Higher Education Act
(P.L. 89-329).

CRS Report R46400, The
FUTURE Act (P.L. 116-91):
Amendments to the Higher
Education Act and Internal
Revenue Code, by Benjamin
Col ins et al.
2020 election to
Under current law up to 10 years of retiree health
For background, see
terminate transfer
and life costs may be transferred from a company’s

CRS Report R46366, Single-
period for qualified
pension plan to a retiree health benefits account
Employer Defined Benefit Pension
transfers from
and/or a retiree life insurance account within the
Plans: Funding Relief and
pension plan for
pension plan, if certain conditions are met. One of
Modifications to Funding Rules,
covering future
the conditions, that plan funding must be 120% or
by John J. Topoleski and
retiree costs
greater of expected future outlays for the duration
Elizabeth A. Myers.
of the transfer, has been more difficult to meet
due to COVID-19 market volatility. This provision
al ows employers to make a one-time election
during 2020 and 2021 to end any existing transfer
period for any taxable year beginning after the
date of election, if the plan maintains funding of at
least 100% for the original transfer period and
meets other conditions.
Extension of credits
Extends the refundable payrol tax credits, enacted
For background, see
for paid sick and
in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

CRS Insight IN11243, Tax
family leave
(FFCRA; P.L. 116-127), through March 31, 2021.
Credit for Paid Sick and Family
The credits apply as if the corresponding employer
Leave in the Families First
mandates were also extended.
Coronavirus Response Act (H.R.
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The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Section Title
Description
CRS Resources
6201) (Updated), by Mol y F.
Sherlock.

CRS In Focus IF11487, The
Families First Coronavirus
Response Act Leave Provisions, by
Sarah A. Donovan and Jon O.
Shimabukuro.
Election to use prior
Average daily self-employment income is an
For background, see
year net earnings
amount equal to the net earnings from self-

CRS Insight IN11243, Tax
from self-
employment for the taxable year divided by 260.
Credit for Paid Sick and Family
employment in
This provision al ows individuals to elect to use
Leave in the Families First
determining average
average daily self-employment income from 2019,
Coronavirus Response Act (H.R.
daily self-
instead of 2020, to compute the credit. This
6201) (Updated), by Mol y F.
employment income
provision is effective as if included in FFCRA.
Sherlock.
for purposes of
credits for paid sick

and family leave
Certain technical
Makes technical changes to and coordinates the
For background, see
improvements to
definitions of qualified wages for paid sick leave,

CRS Insight IN11243, Tax
credits for paid sick
paid family and medical leave, and the exclusion of
Credit for Paid Sick and Family
and family leave
such leave from employer Old-Age, Survivors, and
Leave in the Families First
Disability Insurance (OASDI) tax. This provision is
Coronavirus Response Act (H.R.
effective as if included in FFCRA.
6201) (Updated), by Mol y F.
Sherlock.
Source: CRS analysis of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260).

Congressional Research Service

6

Table 2. Estimated Cost of the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020
Fiscal Years; Mil ions of Dol ars
Provision
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2021-2030
Additional 2020 recovery rebates for
164,061
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
164,061
individuals
Amendments to recovery rebates
1,637
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,637
under the CARES Act
Extension of certain deferred payrol
469
-453
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16
taxes
Regulations or guidance clarifying
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
20
application of educator expense tax
deduction
Clarification of tax treatment of
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Revenue Effect
forgiveness of covered loans
Emergency financial aid grants
108
27
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
135
Clarification of tax treatment of
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Revenue Effect
certain loan forgiveness and other
business financial assistance under
the CARES Act
Authority to waive certain
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Revenue Effect
information-reporting requirements
Application of special rules to money
71
15
7
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
101
purchase pension plans
Election to waive application of
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Negligible Revenue
certain modifications to farming
Loss
losses
Oversight and audit reporting
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Revenue Effect
Disclosures to identify tax
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Negligible Revenue
receivables not eligible for col ection
Loss
pursuant to qualified tax col ection
contracts
CRS-7

Provision
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2021-2030
Modification of certain protections
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Revenue Effect
for taxpayer return information
2020 election to terminate transfer
-60
-47
-38
-29
-23
-19
-10
-2
-
-
-228
period for qualified transfers from
pension plan for covering future
retiree costs
Extension of credits for paid sick and
1,185
417
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,602
family leave
Election to use prior-year net
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Estimate included in
earnings from self-employment in
“Extension of
determining average daily self-
credits for paid sick
employment income for purposes of
and family leave”
credits for paid sick and family leave
Certain technical improvements to
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Estimate included in
credits for paid sick and family leave
“Extension of
credits for paid sick
and family leave”
Total
167,473
-39
-29
-26
-20
-16
-7
1
4
4
167,344
Source: Joint Committee on Taxation, “Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions Contained in Rules Committee Print 116-68, the ‘Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021,’” JCX-24-20, December 21, 2020.
Notes: A negative number indicates the provision is estimated to result in a revenue gain.
CRS-8

The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Table 3. COVID-Related Provisions in Division EE of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021
Section Title
Description
CRS Resources
Employee Retention
Modifies and extends the employee retention
For background, see
Credit
credit. Changes, which are retroactive to the

CRS Insight IN11299, COVID-
CARES Act, would (1) clarify that group health
19: The Employee Retention Tax
plan expenses are considered qualifying wages,
Credit, by Mol y F. Sherlock.
even when no other wages are paid; (2) clarify the
determination of gross receipts for certain tax-

CRS Insight IN11324, CARES
exempt organizations; and (3) al ow employers
Act Assistance for Employers and
who receive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Employees—The Paycheck
loans to claim the ERTC with respect to wages
Protection Program, Employee
that are not paid for with forgiven PPP proceeds.
Retention Tax Credit, and
Unemployment Insurance
Extends and modifies the credit, with the revised
Benefits: Overview (Part 1),
credit cal ed the employee retention and rehiring
coordinated by Mol y F.
tax credit. The credit is extended through June 30,
Sherlock.
2021. Additional modifications (1) increase the
credit rate from 50% to 70%; (2) increase the

CRS Insight IN11329, CARES
amount of wages that can qualify for the credit
Act Assistance for Employers and
from a total of $10,000 to $10,000 per calendar
Employees—The Paycheck
quarter; (3) reduce the decline in gross receipts
Protection Program, Employee
threshold for credit eligibility from 50% to 20%,
Retention Tax Credit, and
and al ow certain employers to determine
Unemployment Insurance
eligibility using the prior quarter’s gross receipts;
Benefits: Assessment of
(4) increase the threshold for which the credit can
Alternatives (Part 2),
only be claimed for wages paid when services are
coordinated by Mol y F.
not provided from 100 to 500 ful -time employees;
Sherlock.
(5) al ow employers who were not in existence for
al or part of 2019 to qualify for the credit; (6)
al ow certain public-sector employers to claim the
credit; (7) provide that advance payments be
al owed at any point in the calendar quarter for
employers with 500 or fewer employees; (8)
provide special rules for seasonal employers for
calculating credit amounts; and (9) direct the
Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a public
awareness campaign regarding the availability of
the credit in coordination with the Smal Business
Administration.
Temporary Rule
Modifies the current partial plan termination rules
Preventing Partial
to ensure such termination does not occur if the

Plan Termination
active participant count as of March 31, 2021, is at

least 80% of the number of active participants
covered by the plan on March 13, 2020.
Business Meals
Al ows a 100% deduction for expenses paid or
For background, see
Deduction
incurred in 2021 or 2022 for business meal food

CRS Insight IN11313, Business
and beverages provided by a restaurant, including
Deductions for Entertainment
any carry-out or delivery meals. Absent this
and Meals, by Donald J.
provision, a 50% deduction is al owed for business
Marples
meals.
Special Rule for
If a taxpayer’s earned income in 2020 is less than
For background, see
Determining Earned
earned income from the preceding year (i.e.,

CRS Report R45864, Tax Policy
Income
2019), the taxpayer can elect to use preceding
and Disaster Recovery, by Mol y
year earned income for the purposes of
F. Sherlock and Jennifer Teefy.
determining the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).
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Section Title
Description
CRS Resources

CRS Report R43805, The
Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC): How It Works and Who
Receives It, by Margot L.
Crandal -Hol ick, Gene Falk,
and Conor F. Boyle.

CRS In Focus IF11077, The
Child Tax Credit, by Margot L.
Crandal -Hol ick.
Special Rules for
Taxpayers who do not itemize deductions are
For background, see
Charitable
al owed an above-the-line deduction of up to $300

CRS Insight IN11420,
Contributions
($600 for married couples) for 2021. The CARES
Temporary Enhancements to
Act al owed a deduction of up to $300 for 2020.
Charitable Contributions
The CARES Act also suspended the 50% of AGI
Deductions in the CARES Act, by
limit (temporarily 60% for cash contributions
Jane G. Gravel e.
through 2025) on cash contributions for
individuals for 2020. The corporate deduction limit
was increased from 10% of taxable income to 25%
for cash contributions. The limit on the deduction
for contributions of food inventory was increased
from 15% to 25% for both corporate and
noncorporate businesses. The increased limits did
not apply to contributions to private foundations
and donor-advised funds. These revisions are
extended to 2021.
Health and
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) provide
For background, see
Dependent Care
exclusions from income tax for contributions for

CRS In Focus IF11597, Potential
Flexible Spending
benefits that can be used for health and dependent
Impact of COVID-19 on
Arrangements (FSAs) care. Individuals’ contributions are general y
Dependent Care Flexible
forfeited if not used during the plan year (or,
Spending Arrangements (FSAs),
where applicable, an al owed grace period). Health
by Conor F. Boyle and Margot
FSAs may al ow limited amounts to be rol ed over
L. Crandal -Hol ick.
to subsequent plan years.

CRS In Focus IF11576, Potential
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) al owed
COVID-19 Impacts on Health
employers to provide employees with the ability
Flexible Spending Arrangements
to make midyear changes to the amounts
(FSAs) and Recent Health FSA
contributed to FSAs during 2020. Because some
Changes, by Ryan J. Rosso.
plans do not fol ow a calendar year, the IRS also
al owed employers to extend the availability of

FSA funds through the end of 2020 for plans that
were scheduled to end before December 31.
This provision al ows employers to extend the
availability of FSA contribution amounts from 2020
to 2021, and from 2021 to 2022. It also al ows
employers to increase the coverage of dependent
care expenses from children under age 13 to
children under age 14. Additional y, it al ows
employers to make health FSA funds available to
employees who made contributions to their health
FSA and were terminated in 2020 or 2021. Final y,
it al ows employers to provide employees with the
opportunity to make midyear, prospective FSA
contribution changes for plans ending in 2021.
Source: CRS analysis of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260).

Congressional Research Service

10

Table 4. Estimated Cost of COVID-Related Tax Relief in the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2020
Fiscal Years; Mil ions of Dol ars
Provision
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2021-2030
Clarification and technical
5,167
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,167
improvements to CARES Act
employee retention credit
Extension and modification of
13,139
2,319
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,458
employee retention and rehiring
credit
Temporary rule preventing partial
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Negligible Revenue
plan termination
Effect
Temporary al owance of ful
1,266
3,200
1,831
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,296
deduction for business meals
Temporary special rule for
4,136
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,136
determination of earned income
(EITC and CTC lookback)
Certain charitable contributions
573
2,292
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,865
deductible by nonitemizers
Temporary modification of
721
2,498
-1,601
-494
-286
-194
-
-
-
-
643
limitations on charitable
contributions
Temporary special rules for health
-i-
-38
-16
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-54
and dependent care flexible spending
arrangements
Source: Joint Committee on Taxation, “Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions Contained in Rules Committee Print 116 -68, the ‘Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021,’” JCX-24-20, December 21, 2020.
Notes: A negative number indicates the provision is estimated to result in a revenue gain. An -i- indicates a negligible revenue effect.

CRS-11

The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020

Author Information

Molly F. Sherlock
Jane G. Gravelle
Specialist in Public Finance
Senior Specialist in Economic Policy

Donald J. Marples
Mark P. Keightley
Specialist in Public Finance
Specialist in Economics

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
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copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Congressional Research Service
R46649 · VERSION 1 · NEW
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