Is This Part of Gross Income for Tax Purposes?

Yes, the incentive is included in the employee's gross income and in wages for federal employment tax purposes.

Your employee should contact the IRS to determine how to report this benefit and for any other tax related questions or obligations.

IRS Reporting

NFC will report payment of this incentive to the IRS.

Note: See http://www.opm.gov/flsa/oca/pay/StudentLoan/HTML/QandAsTax.asp for additional information on tax liability.

Tax Withholdings

Tax withholdings are deducted or applied at the time the loan repayment is made. Tax withholdings may not be spread out over time.

The deduction for employment tax withholding reduces the maximum loan repayment.

Example: If you grant a benefit of $6,000 and your employee's tax deductions are $2,000, then the actual loan payment to the loan institution is $4,000. However, the fully approved benefit amount of $6,000 counts toward the maximum benefit limitations.

Easing Tax Liability

In an effort to ease the tax liability to employees receiving this benefit, you may have:

• NFC make smaller payments at periodic intervals through the fiscal year or subsequent years, rather than issue one lump sum;

• Your employee write a check to MRP to cover the tax liability rather than have it withheld from your employee's pay check;

  	Employees make the check out to:	And complete:	And mail the check (and form) to:
  AMS	USDA-AMS		USDA-APHIS/WFSB 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 3759S Washington, DC 20250-3439 Attn: Management Accountant
  APHIS	USDA- APHIS- General	APHIS Form 94, Record of Public Funds Received	USDA-APHIS-General P.O.Box 952180 St. Louis, MO 63195
  GIPSA	USDA- GIPSA		USDA-GIPSA Attn: Jerry Wadley 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250 Stop 3439

• The appropriate amount of taxes withheld from the loan repayment benefit before issuing payment to the holder of the loan.

Note: Remember to advise HRO of the above method to be used.

Note: The following websites contain the latest information from the IRS on tax liabilities and payment procedures:

• www.opm.gov/oca/pay/studentloan/index.htm
• www.hqnet.usda.gov/intranet/refer.htm
• www.nfc.usda.gov

SPO: See also NFC Bulletin, Title I, 01 - 15, dated September 21, 2001.