Are you an expecting parent who has a new baby on the way? First of all, congratulations!
There are many new responsibilities that come with having a new addition to the family, with money matters taking the forefront.
Not surprisingly, some of the most frequent queries from new parents are about paid family leave and how it factors into their financial situation.
So how exactly does paid parental leave work, and is it taxable?
Read on to get all your tax-related questions answered—don’t make the grave mistake of putting it off for later!
Does Parental Leave Get Taxed?
Let’s get directly to the point—yes, paid parental leave does get taxed in the United States.
Federal income tax will apply to paid family leave since this amount is considered a part of your federal gross income.
The exact tax amount you are required to pay varies from state to state and also depends on the benefits you are receiving.
Medicare and Social Service tax is not applicable on paid family leave.
It is also worth mentioning that not all employers offer paid family leave and there is no federal law regarding it either.
The FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) does require employers to offer unpaid time off under certain circumstances in which birth, adoption, and foster care placement are also considered.
The time period for leave under the FMLA is up to 12 weeks given the requirements are met.
For paid time off, the law varies according to your state. Some states, such as California and Massachusetts, have proper laws regarding paid time off for family leave.
Some employers may also offer this benefit to expecting parents voluntarily.
Employees getting paid family leave usually receive a fraction of their usual pay and a maximum limit to the amount exists as well.
How to Report Paid Family Leave on Taxes
The method of reporting paid family leave taxes will be different depending on the state you are in.
Some states, like Massachusetts, have laws in place for paid family leave.
According to the government of Massachusetts’s official website, employers should report their contributions toward paid family leave using Form W-2 and Box 14.
Is Paid Family Leave Taxable
Yes, paid parental leave is taxable. It is included in the list of paid benefits that are eligible for federal income tax.
You will be mailed a Form 1099-G in January for the tax year which is used to report the annual total taxable income and also forwarded to the IRS.
If you don’t receive a Form 1099-G to report total taxable income, contact your state department representative and send in a request for one.
If you have changed your address recently, make sure to inform the state beforehand so the form can be mailed to you on time.
How Does Paid Family Leave Affect Taxes
Paid family leave is subject to tax and the policy for this varies according to the state you live in.
To file tax returns, you will be mailed a 1099-G tax form by the state to record your total taxable income.
If you are still confused about how obtaining paid family leave benefits will affect your taxes, we recommend that you contact the state department for more information.
The IRS has also not declared any clear policy for paid family leave as of yet.
How Much is Parental Leave Pay After Tax
The amount left over after tax deduction from parental leave pay is not fixed and depends on a lot of factors such as your income, company policy, tax percentage, etc.
To get an estimate of the amount available to you, however, you should calculate how much you will receive as paid family leave compared to your normal wages.
For most states, parental leave pay is calculated at around 60 to 70 percent of your weekly income and also depends on whether you are a full-time employee or working part-time.
To get a proper picture of what your finances will look like after taking paid family leave, there are many important factors to consider.
Your financial condition will be very different depending on whether one partner is on paid leave and the other is working full-time, or both are on paid parental leave.
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In a Nutshell
To summarize, paid parental leave is taxable under federal income tax but not subject to other regulations such as Social Service tax or Medicare tax.
You should also keep in mind that some states do not have laws regarding paid family leave and it can be up to your employer to offer it voluntarily or not.
Don’t forget to check your state laws regarding this and discuss it with your employer as well at least a month prior to taking leave.
There is a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in place that requires employers to give a period of unpaid time off in circumstances involving health matters, and also covers the birth of a child and adoption.
All in all, it is worth delving deep into what are the possible benefits your employer will offer including paid family leave beforehand.
Being aware of whether this benefit is taxable or not will keep you on top of things and make informed financial decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is parental leave taxable in California?
Yes, parental leave payment is subject to tax in California and you will be provided a 1099-G form to file tax returns.
Is parental leave paid in the USA?
There are both paid and unpaid forms of parental leaves in the USA. Whether you get paid family leave or not depends on your state and circumstances as well as your employer. There is no federal law mandating paid parental leave in the US as compared to other developed countries.
What is the parental leave policy in the US?
The parental leave policy varies from region to region in the US. However, according to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may be entitled to unpaid leave extending up to 12 weeks for circumstances that include the birth of a child, adoption or foster care
Mo Mulla is a work-from-home dad who co-parents 2 beautiful children and blogs all about his lifestyle with smart parenting tips and practical lifestyle hacks!