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News & Updates from the MSCPA’s Government Affairs Team
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We're working to keep you informed in a world that changes by the minute. If you have anything you'd like to share, or if we can help you in any way, please reach out to Zach Donah at zdonah@mscpaonline.org or 617.303.2411, or Larry Liuzzo at lliuzzo@mscpaonline.org or 617.303.2405.
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Massachusetts Primary Election Results
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U.S. Senate
There were a few hotly contested races on the September 1 Primary Election Day, but none more than that between incumbent Senator Ed Markey and challenger Congressman Joseph Kennedy III. After a year-long campaign, Senator Markey bested Congressman Kennedy with around 55% of the vote. On the Grand Old Party (GOP) side, Attorney Kevin O’Connor defeated Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai with 59% of the vote. Senator Markey and O’Connor will face each other in the November 3 general election.
Massachusetts First Congressional District
In a race at the First Congressional District that caught the eye of national media outlets in the last few weeks, Congressman Richie Neal, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, defeated Alex Morse, mayor of the City of Holyoke. While Congressman Neal won with almost 59% of the vote, this was said to be his most challenging primary to date. Many suspect that 31-year-old Mayor Morse will be around elected politics in Western Massachusetts for years to come.
Massachusetts Fourth Congressional District
About 1,000 votes between the top two candidates in a seven-person race in the fourth Congressional District, currently represented by Congressman Kennedy, will decide the Democrat party’s nominee for the November general election. In a race that is still too close to call, Jake Auchincloss, Newton city councilor, and Jesse Mermell, former president of the Alliance for Business Leadership, both hope to be their party’s nominee to face off against the Republican nominee, Air Force veteran, Colonel
Julie Hall (Ret.).
WBUR has a full list of election results including additional contested congressional and county races. To learn more, click here.
| CPA License Renewal and CPE Deadline: September 30
| Please note: The deadline for even-year license renewals and CPE requirements is September 30 and the deadline for firm affidavits is November 2.
According to the Board of Public Accountancy, "before renewing online, individual licensees must have completed the required 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE), including at least four hours in ethics, from July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2020, or the license will expire."
To read the official notice from the Board of Public Accountancy, click here.
To renew your license, click here. To check your CPE credits, visit your CPE Tracker here.
| New England Advocacy Coalition September Newsletter
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The New England Advocacy Coalition released its September newsletter on happenings specific to each state in the New England region. To read the newsletter, click here.
| Guidance for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
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| DOR & IRS Updates
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| Massachusetts Receives Federal Grant for Additional Unemployment Benefits
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Massachusetts’ application to receive grant funding, “to pay an additional weekly unemployment benefit to claimants under the federal Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance (LWA) program.”
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) stated, “the grant will fund an additional $300 weekly payment to those who are eligible for the three weeks ending August 1, August 8 and August 15,” and expects to have those funds delivered retroactively by September 15. These benefits will be automatically added to all eligible claimants currently receiving benefits.
| Massachusetts DOR: Keep Good Records
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In its “Hot Topics at DOR,” the Department of Revenue (DOR) is encouraging sole proprietorship, partnerships and corporate entities to keep good, organized records that will, “help you prepare accurate sales or meals tax returns throughout the year…and an accurate year-end return reporting your business income.”
As the DOR has received a few inquiries on some audits conducted, they started a campaign to educate business owners on the importance of good recordkeeping and choosing a point of sale (POS) system that meets the criteria outlined in Massachusetts DOR Directive 16-1.
To read the DOR’s record retention regulation, click here.
To read the Massachusetts DOR Directive 16-1, click here.
To subscribe to receive news and updates from the Massachusetts DOR, click here.
| Resources for CPAs
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