As the tight labor market continues to put upward pressure on wages, many businesses are struggling to attract and retain qualified workers at salaries the company can afford to pay. One often-overlooked tax credit could provide some relief for companies in this situation while also pointing them to a potential source of new employees they might not have considered otherwise. (more…)
Work Opportunity Tax Credit – Timing is Everything
A recently extended tax credit could make it easier for some businesses to expand their payrolls again after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act, part of the 2021 appropriations bill that was signed into law on December 27, 2020, includes a five-year extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC).
The WOTC is designed to encourage businesses (and non-profit entities) to hire individuals from certain targeted groups that have traditionally faced employment barriers. After many companies were forced to reduce their workforces significantly in 2020, the number of people who could qualify for one of these groups has grown, especially those who qualify as recipients of long-term unemployment benefits. (more…)