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S. Michael Chittenden

Special Counsel

Washington +1 202 662 5295 mchittenden@cov.com Download V-card

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Michael Chittenden practices in the areas of tax and employee benefits with a focus on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), information reporting (e.g., Forms 1095, 1096, 1098, 1099, W-2, 1042, and 1042-S) and withholding, payroll taxes, and fringe benefits. Mr. Chittenden advises companies on their obligations under FATCA and assists in the development of comprehensive FATCA and Chapter 3 (nonresident alien reporting and withholding) compliance programs.

Mr. Chittenden advises large employers on their employment tax obligations, including the special FICA and FUTA rules for nonqualified deferred compensation, the successor employer rules, the voluntary correction of employment tax mistakes, and the abatement of late deposit and information reporting penalties. In addition, he has also advised large insurance companies and employers on the Affordable Care Act reporting requirements in Sections 6055 and 6056, and advised clients on the application of section 6050W (Form 1099-K reporting), including its application to third-party payment networks.

Mr. Chittenden counsels clients on mobile workforce issues including state income tax withholding for mobile employees and expatriate and inpatriate taxation and reporting.

Mr. Chittenden is a frequent commentator on information withholding, payroll taxes, and fringe benefits and regularly gives presentations on the compliance burdens for companies.

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Advised a large multinational retailer on the development of a comprehensive Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 (FATCA) compliance program, registration of foreign financial institutions within its expanded affiliated group, and the application of FATCA regulations and intergovernmental agreements to entities and retirement plans located in several foreign countries.
Advised several large insurance companies on Form 1095-B reporting, including TIN solicitation requirements, error correction, identification of the employer sponsoring a group health plan, association plan reporting, VEBA reporting, multiemployer plan reporting, and other aspects of the regulations, and drafted extensive comments for submission to and testified before the IRS and Treasury Department regarding the challenges faced by insurers in soliciting and reporting the TINs of covered individuals.
Represented a large energy company in a multifaceted dispute with the IRS related to numerous alleged information reporting and withholding failures, including the imposition of intentional disregard penalties.
Advised a large financial company on the proper tax treatment of more than 200 different types of earnings and deductions for federal income tax withholding, FICA taxes and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax purposes, as well as state income tax withholding and state unemployment insurance tax treatment in more than 20 states and numerous counties, school districts and cities.

Advised an auction service provider on the application of Section 6050W reporting to its business with a focus on whether it operates a third-party payment network.
Advised large employers on Form 1095-C and Form 1094-C reporting, including issues related to self-insured coverage, multiemployer plan reporting, reporting for nonemployee directors, retirees, and part-time employees, and TIN solicitation requirements.

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American Bar Association, Section of Taxation
The District of Columbia Bar, Taxation Section

Notice 2020-54 Requires Reporting of Qualified Sick Leave Wages and Qualified Family Leave Wages Under FFCRA

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) mandates employers of fewer than 500 employees provide two types of paid leave and includes two employer social security tax credits equal to the amount of paid leave that the employer is required to provide to employees related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (See earlier coverage.) Yesterday, in Notice...… ...

The Curious Case of New Jersey and Ms. Darcey: New Jersey Taxation of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

New Jersey challenges its residents (and their employers) by diverging in significant and meaningful ways from Federal definitions of income. In these ways, New Jersey shares much in common although not all in common) with its western neighbor, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, New Jersey has entered into a reciprocal agreement with its neighbor Pennsylvania so that ...

IRS Provides Guidance on Leave Donation Programs in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The IRS recently released Notice 2020-46, providing favorable tax relief for “leave-based donation programs” designed to aid victims of COVID-19 pandemic. Under these programs, employees may elect to forgo vacation, sick, or personal leave in exchange for payments that the employer makes to charitable organizations described under section 170(c). Under this ...

IRS Updates FAQs on Employee Retention Credit Enacted as Part of CARES Act

On Friday, June 19, the IRS updated several FAQs on its website related to the Employee Retention Credit adopted as part of the Coronavirus Relief, Aid, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The updated FAQs provide additional insight into the IRS’s current thinking regarding employer eligibility for and determination of the credit. Unfortunately, the updated ...

Some Employers Must Act Immediately to Take Advantage of CARES Act Social Security Tax Deferral for Deposits Made Early in the Second Quarter

The IRS recently released a second set of draft instructions for Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. The IRS also released the final Form 941, which was revised significantly from the prior form to accommodate the employer social security tax deferral and employer social security tax credits enacted as part of the Coronavirus Aid,...… Continue ...

IRS Revises Administrative Waiver for Late Deposit Penalties Arising from Employment Taxes on Stock Options, SARs, and RSUs

The IRS has shortened the time in which employers must deposit payroll taxes related to certain stock-settled awards issued to employees, in order to be eligible for an administrative waiver of late-deposit penalties. Through a non-publicized change to its Internal Revenue Manual, the IRS has shortened the applicable deadline for depositing owed and accumulated ...

Proposed Regulations Regarding TCJA Disallowance for Employee Commuting and Parking Costs a Mixed Bag

On June 23, Proposed Treasury Regulations §§ 1.274-13 and 1.274-14 were published in the Federal Register addressing the disallowance of employer deductions for the cost of providing commuting and parking benefits to employees. The proposed regulations are a mixed bag with some clarifications being helpful and others less so. Proposed Treasury Regulation ...

Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act Becomes Law; Extends Employer Social Security Tax Deferral for PPP Loan Recipients

Earlier today, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act (“PPFA”), making certain changes to the Paycheck Protection Program enacted as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act in March. Section 4 of the PPFA amends Section 2302(a) of the CARES Act to delete section 2302(a)(3). Accordingly, employers who ...

Much Ado About Nothing Much New: IRS Releases GLAM Addressing Payroll Taxation of Equity Compensation

On May 22, 2020, the IRS released a Generic Legal Advice Memorandum, GLAM 2020-004, which addresses the timing of the taxation and withholding of payroll taxes on certain stock-settled awards issued to employees. Specifically, the GLAM focuses on the treatment of stock options, stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs), and stock-settled restricted stock ...

IRS Reverses Course on Health Plan Expenses for Furloughed Employees

On May 7, the IRS updated its frequently asked questions to reverse its earlier determination that health plan expenses paid or incurred by an employer to provide health benefits to furloughed employees who were not paid other wages were not qualified health plan expenses for which an employer could claim the employee retention credit. The...… Continue Reading

Summary of Tax Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act

Late last night, the Senate passed (96-0) the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act that was introduced by several Senate Republicans last Thursday. This follows a number of days of whirlwind negotiations, beginning with the Senate where, on Sunday night, a procedural vote failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to move the legislation ...

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S. Michael Chittenden

Representative Matters

Memberships and Affiliations

News and Insights (Showing 5 of 14) (Showing 14 of 14)

The Curious Case of New Jersey and Ms. Darcey: New Jersey Taxation of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

Notice 2020-54 Requires Reporting of Qualified Sick Leave Wages and Qualified Family Leave Wages Under FFCRA

The Curious Case of New Jersey and Ms. Darcey: New Jersey Taxation of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

IRS Provides Guidance on Leave Donation Programs in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

IRS Updates FAQs on Employee Retention Credit Enacted as Part of CARES Act

Some Employers Must Act Immediately to Take Advantage of CARES Act Social Security Tax Deferral for Deposits Made Early in the Second Quarter

IRS Revises Administrative Waiver for Late Deposit Penalties Arising from Employment Taxes on Stock Options, SARs, and RSUs

Proposed Regulations Regarding TCJA Disallowance for Employee Commuting and Parking Costs a Mixed Bag

Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act Becomes Law; Extends Employer Social Security Tax Deferral for PPP Loan Recipients

Much Ado About Nothing Much New: IRS Releases GLAM Addressing Payroll Taxation of Equity Compensation

IRS Reverses Course on Health Plan Expenses for Furloughed Employees

Summary of Tax Provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act

How A Procedural Misstep Can Invalidate IRS Penalties

Supreme Court Overturns Quill and Broadens Businesses’ Tax Collection Obligations

Accolades

COVID-19: Legal and Business Toolkit

Practices

Industries

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2009

Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 2000

Bar Admissions