Learning Center
We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

Maximize Your Benefits: Work Opportunity Tax Credit Expiration Alert!

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) has been a cornerstone for businesses aiming to secure tax efficiencies while promoting inclusive hiring practices. This federal credit, designed to incentivize the employment of individuals from designated target groups who face significant employment obstacles, is set to expire on December 31, 2025, barring any congressional action to extend it. For businesses looking to strategically optimize their tax profile, understanding and acting on the WOTC is crucial.

Image 1

Deep Dive into the Work Opportunity Tax Credit: The WOTC is an enticing federal incentive that offers tangible tax reductions for businesses hiring from groups with historical employment barriers. To qualify, new hires must begin their employment by the end of 2025. The credit supports workforce diversification and enhances corporate social responsibility by encouraging employers to hire individuals from these groups.

Key Target Groups: The WOTC covers a wide spectrum of target demographics, including:

  1. Veterans: Preferably those who have been unemployed or possess service-related disabilities.

  2. Long-term Unemployed: Individuals without employment for 27 weeks or more.

  3. Ex-Felons: Those facing employment hurdles post-incarceration.

  4. SNAP Recipients: Individuals with recent food stamp benefits.

  5. TANF Recipients: Beneficiaries of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in the past two years.

  6. Designated Community Residents & Summer Youth Employees: Young adults residing in designated empowerment zones.

  7. Vocational Rehabilitation Referrals: Individuals with disabilities assisted by rehabilitation agencies.

Image 3

It is imperative to ensure eligibility by the employment start deadline since past congressional extensions are no guarantee for future actions.

Calculating Credits: The WOTC offers a credit of up to 40% on the first $6,000 of wages for qualified employees, capping at $2,400 per employee. For veteran hires, the credit could skyrocket to $9,600 under specific conditions. A minimum requirement of 120 hours of work is necessary, with increased credit incentives for 400 or more working hours.

Navigating Certification: The certification process through the State Workforce Agency (SWA) involves submitting IRS Form 8850 along with ETA Form 9061 or 9062 within a 28-day window post-employment initiation. Swift certification processes, especially for veterans, streamline access to these tax advantages.

Exclusions: The WOTC is not available for hiring relatives, major stakeholders, or under federal subsidized programs. Tax-exempt entities can only claim credits for hired veterans, offsetting the employer’s part of Social Security taxes.

Prompt Action Required: The 2025 deadline looms. Without definitive legislative extension, the urgency to capitalize on WOTC has never been more pressing. Businesses committed to reducing their tax liabilities while fostering social welfare should prioritize leveraging this credit.

Image 2

Employers keen on decreasing tax obligations and enhancing their community footprint must navigate the WOTC now—before it’s too late. Ensuring all documentation and certifications are precise and on time will maximize this advantageous soon-to-expire tax credit. Contact our office for guidance on how the WOTC can benefit your business.

Share this article...

Want tax & accounting tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .