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Maximize Your WOTC Benefits Before It's Too Late!

Maximize Your Work Opportunity Tax Credit Benefits Before 2025!

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) presents a strategic opportunity for businesses aiming to optimize their tax liabilities while fostering inclusivity by hiring from eligible target groups. With the WOTC set to expire after December 31, 2025, unless Congress acts to extend it, companies must act now to benefit during this potentially final phase. Here, we detail the essentials of the WOTC, covering eligibility criteria, target groups, working hours, and certification processes crucial for businesses to effectively utilize this tax credit.

Insight into the Work Opportunity Tax Credit: The WOTC serves as a federal incentive encouraging businesses to employ individuals from specified groups who encounter substantial employment challenges. With this credit, businesses contribute to a diverse and strengthened workforce by hiring these individuals. To benefit, new employees must start on or before December 31, 2025, under current guidelines.

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Target Groups that WOTC Supports: Eligible groups include:

  • Veterans: Including those unemployed for four weeks or more and service-connected disabled veterans.

  • Long-Term Unemployed: Individuals out of work for 27 or more consecutive weeks.

  • Ex-Felons: Those facing employment challenges due to past convictions.

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Beneficiaries: Individuals receiving food stamps in the last six months.

  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Recipients: Individuals receiving aid in the past two years.

  • Residents of Designated Communities and Summer Youth: Ages 18 to 39 living in Empowerment Zones.

  • Vocational Rehabilitation Referrals: Those referred through a rehab agency with disabilities.

Timely employment initiation is crucial to yielding benefits from the WOTC, despite Congress often extending this credit in prior years.

Credit Composition and Limitations: Employers can claim a tax credit based on wages paid to eligible hires. This amount depends on the target group and hours worked:

  • General Rule: Up to 40% of the initial $6,000 in wages per employee, up to a $2,400 credit.

  • Veterans: Disabled veterans qualify for credits as high as $9,600 under certain conditions.

  • Long-Term Unemployed: Credits can peak at $5,000.

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Employees should work a minimum of 120 hours, with the full 40% available for those at 400+ hours. Those between 120-399 hours earn a 25% credit.

Navigating the Certification Process: To capitalize on WOTC benefits, employers must efficiently traverse the certification process with the State Workforce Agency (SWA). This involves submitting IRS Form 8850 and either Form 9061 or 9062 from the ETA, done within 28 days of a qualifying employee's start date.

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Simplified Approvals for Veterans: The process for veterans is notably expedited, reflecting a system geared towards supporting veteran employment, thus enabling employers to quickly unlock related tax benefits.

When Credits Cannot Be Applied: Certain limits prevent WOTC eligibility:

  • Relatives and Dependents: Employers cannot claim credits for hiring dependents or immediate family members.

  • Majority Business Owners: A business owner hiring themselves or a major stakeholder is ineligible.

  • Federal Subsidized Programs: Wages under specified federal subsidies aren't credit-eligible.

Impacts for Nonprofit Employers: Nonprofit entities, like 501(c) organizations, can apply the WOTC solely to veteran hires, crediting employer Social Security tax payments.

Strategic Actions and Timeliness: With the December 31, 2025 deadline approaching, businesses must act expediently to take advantage of the WOTC. Given past tendencies of Congressional extensions, there’s no current assurance it will continue post-2025, emphasizing the necessity of proactive action now.

Employers aiming to cut tax burdens while making strategic, inclusive hiring a priority should focus on the WOTC. By capitalizing on this opportunity, they not only stand to gain financially but also contribute to overcoming systemic employment barriers for target groups. Timely, thorough certification and documentation are critical steps in leveraging these potential tax savings before expiration.

Reach out to our office at Thompson-Smith CPA, LLC., for expert guidance on how this significant tax credit might benefit your business strategies.

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