What is the Employee Retention Credit?
Watch this video to learn more.
The Employee Retention Credit
COVID-19 has been a challenge for all of us. As the world shut down the economy came to a halt, leaving the future of many businesses in a precarious position. As we begin to find normalcy again, businesses now have to focus on recovering and fortunately, several government programs are easing this process.
One such program is the Employee Retention Credit or ERC, which is a generous stimulus program designed to bolster those businesses that were able to retain their employees during this challenging time. Due to the extremely complex tax code and qualifications, it is severely underutilized. Details of the program include:
UP TO $26,000 PER EMPLOYEE
AVAILABLE FOR 2020 & Q1 - Q3 2021
QUALIFY WITH DECREASED REVENUE OR COVID EVENT
NO LIMIT ON FUNDING (ERC IS NOT A LOAN)
ERC IS A REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT
ERC Qualifications
While the general qualifications for the ERC program seem simple, the interpretation of each qualification is very complex. Our significant experience allows us to ensure we maximize any qualifications that may be available to your company.
FULL OR PARTIAL SUSPENSION OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
A government authority required partial or full shutdown of your business during 2020 or 2021. This includes your operations being limited by commerce, inability to travel, or restrictions of group meetings.
GROSS RECEIPTS REDUCTION
Gross receipt reduction criteria are different for 2020 and 2021 but are measured against the current quarter as compared to 2019 pre-COVID amounts.
Ready to Get Started?
Your ERC Tax Refund
Unlike other programs like the PPP or EIDL, this is a refundable tax credit for your business. There is no loan, so there is nothing to pay back or forgive. There are also no requirements for how you use the credit. It's a credit for retaining your employees during such a challenging time. Thank you and great JOB!
ERC Payment Options
Option 1
PAY NOW
5% FEE
up front before the
funds are issued to you
by the IRS.
We provide a
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
if the funds we claim are not issued by the IRS.
Option 2
SMALL RETAINER
PAY LATER
$2,000-$10,000 retainer, dependent upon the amount of money we
are able to get for you.
We deduct a 10% fee when you receive your funds from the IRS.
We provide a
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
if the funds we claim are not issued by the IRS.
Option 3
PAY LATER
We collect $1000 down and deduct a 15% fee when
you receive your
funds from the IRS.
We provide a
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
if the funds we claim are not issued by the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to repay the ERC Credit?
No. This is not a loan. It's a refundable tax credit. When we file your ERC claim we request a refund check for you.
How much do you charge?
Our service charge is based on a percentage of the credit recovered. We calculate and provide our fee with our free analysis. Since we are typically able to recover 10-20% more than someone less familiar with the program, our fee is very affordable. Just like a good CPA, using the right team for this process pays for itself.
Can't I just have my CPA file? Why would I use ERC Direct?
Of course. The challenge is the ERC credit is taken on your payroll returns and not through your business income tax returns, which is what most CPA's handle. Because of this most CPA's don't process this credit, unless they process your payroll in house. This is also a big reason why this credit is so underutilized. Since CPA's don't typically handle it and they are the tax experts, it has mostly fallen in a middle ground where few are able to effectively process the credit. Interestingly, we receive a large portion of our clients from CPA's.
At ERC Direct we have decades of payroll experience, which has allowed us to specifically focus to understanding and maximizing the ERC program. In our experience we have found that due to the complexity (the ERC tax code is over 200 pages) and time investment necessary to understand the ERC program, very few are able to effectively maximize this sizeable credit for your business.
Can I get ERC Funds if I already took the PPP?
Yes. The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted December 27, 2020, modified the ERC credit rules. One of the modifications included allowing a company to have a PPP loan and still take advantage of the ERC credit. However, you can't use the same dollar for dollar funds. We take this into account when processing your ERC credit.
My revenue went up in 2020, can I still qualify for the ERC program?
Yes! There are two possible qualifications for 2020: revenue reduction, or a "full or partial shutdown of your business due to COVID-19". Specifically the IRS describes this as "A government authority required partial or full shutdown of your business during 2020 or 2021. This includes your operations being limited by commerce, inability to travel or restrictions of group meetings." Below are several examples of qualifying events:
Example 1: A restaurant must close or limit its on-site dining. Such as having to close down every other table, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Example 2: A business that needs to meet with clients in person and has to cancel meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Example 3: A business has to reduce their operating hours because COVID-19 restrictions and cleaning requirements.
Example 4: A business had delayed production timelines caused by supply chain disruptions.
Example 5: A business with a planned event has to cancel that event, or restrict the amount of people who can attend due to COVID-19 restrictions.
I'm a CPA or a payroll company, can I refer my clients to ERC Direct?
Yes. We also offer a referral/affiliate program. To learn more contact us.
Will the ERC funds run out?
This is not a lending program - tax refunds are issued by the US Treasury. Therefore, all eligible employers will receive the funds.
How will I make payment?
We understand your refund check may not arrive for several months (20 weeks minimum according to IRS documentation), so we offer two payment options - you may pay your fee upfront at a discount - or - the full fee can be deducted from your refund once received. Upfront payments can be completed by credit card. Regardless our fee is covered by our 100% Money Back Guarantee. If the IRS does not release the credit claimed for any reason, we will refund any payments made.
I'm getting more in ERC Credit than I paid in taxes?
Remember that this program is taken according to payroll taxes paid, not on income taxes. ERC funds not applied towards owed payroll taxes are treated as an 'over-deposit' of taxes that will be requested as a refund check from the IRS.
As an owner do my wages, or the wages of any family member I employ qualify?
Maybe. Wages of owners who have majority ownership, defined as over 50%, do not qualify, nor do the W2 wages of any immediate family members of the owner. In the case an owner has less than 50% ownership, their W2 wages qualify, as do the W2 wages paid to immediate family members.
How long does it take to get my ERC Credit?
Once filed, refunds are released based on IRS backlog. Currently, the IRS has stipulated a 20 week minimum turnaround on the ERC refunds.
Is the ERC Credit taxable?
The ERC credit is not considered income for federal income tax purposes, but you must reduce any deductible wage expenses by the amount of the credit. Please provide the credit information to your CPA for tax purposes.