The IRS released: a revised Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, and its instructions; instructions for Schedule B, Report of Tax Liability for Semiweekly Schedule Depositors; Schedule R, Allocation Schedule for Aggregate Form 941 Filers, and its instructions; and Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund, and its instructions.

The IRS announced that the business standard mileage rate for transportation expenses paid or incurred beginning July 1, 2022, will be 62.5 cents per mile, up 4 cents from the first half of 2022 [Announcement 2022-13, 6-9-22]. The IRS is making the midyear change “in recognition of the recent gasoline price increases.”

The IRS announced the 2023 maximum contribution levels for health savings accounts (HSAs) and out-of-pocket spending limits and deductible minimums for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) that must be used in conjunction with HSAs [Rev. Proc. 2022-24].

On April 6, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will extend the federal student loan relief until August 31, 2022 [U.S. Department of Education, Press Release, 4-6-22]

The IRS released cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs) for 2022 reflecting any increases in the flexible spending arrangements (FSA) deferral limit, foreign earned income exclusion, and excludable transportation fringes, among other changes [Rev. Proc. 2021-45, 11-10-21].

The IRS has announced the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to the dollar limits on benefits and contributions under qualified retirement plans, as well as other items, for tax year 2022.

• The limitation on the exclusion for elective deferrals under §402(g)(1) (e.g., §401(k) and §403(b) plans) increases to $20,500 (from $19,500).
• The limit on annual additions to defined contribution plans under §415(c)(1)(A) increases to $61,000 (from $58,000).

The Social Security Administration announced that the 2022 social security wage base will be $147,000, which is an increase of $4,200 from $142,800 in 2021.

The maximum social security tax employees and employers will each pay in 2022 is $9,114, an increase of $260.40 from $8,853.60 in 2021.

The U.S. Department of Education announced it will extend the federal student loan relief until January 31, 2022 [U.S. Department of Education, Press Release, 8-6-21; Federal Student Aid notice]. This final extension sets a “definitive end date” to the relief.

The General Services Administration (GSA) issued its annual updated list of federal maximum per diem rates for travel to locations within the continental United States (CONUS). Per Diem Bulletin FTR 22-01 is effective for travel undertaken on or after October 1, 2021 [86 F.R. 45731, 8-16-21].

On March 9, the IRS released the 2021 Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, and its instructions. The IRS also revised the instructions for Form 941, Schedule B and the instructions for Form 941, Schedule R.