Sick and Family Leave Reporting Guidance in 2022

As 2022 approaches, employers will have to account for leave wages paid in 2021 under various federal initiatives. Fortunately, the IRS has published guidance on how to do this, but it's complicated. Click through for an overview of reporting requirements.

The Treasury Department and the IRS have issued Notice 2021-53, which provides guidance to employers about using Form W-2 to report the amount of qualified sick and family leave wages paid to employees for leave taken in 2021. This is welcome news for many taxpayers, as this guidance covers the Families First Coronavirus Response Act as amended by the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The new guidance runs about 20 pages. But in brief, it notes that employers will be required to report these amounts to employees either on Form W-2, Box 14, or in a separate statement provided with the Form W-2. The guidance provides employers with model language to use as part of the Instructions for Employee for the Form W-2 or on the separate statement provided with the Form W-2.

Reporting leave from self-employment

The wage amount that the notice requires employers to report on Form W-2 will provide employees who are also self-employed with the information necessary to determine the amount of any sick and family leave equivalent credits they may claim in their self-employed capacities.

The provisions in the notice can be quite technical, so anyone affected should get advice from a qualified tax professional.