The IRS Employee Retention Credit is a $5,000 credit per employee!
Everyone has heard of the PPP: Paycheck Protection Program, but what about the Employee Retention Credit?
Just like the PPP, it was established under the CARES Act (The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
It's not too late, if you didn't get a PPP loan, and this is much easier!
The Employee Retention Credit purpose is to encourage businesses to keep their employees on the payroll during the shutdown. But, you can only participate in 1!
Per the IRS:
"If an employer receives a Small Business Interruption Loan under the Paycheck Protection Program, authorized under the CARES Act, then the employer is not eligible for the Employee Retention Credit."
What's the catch?
The business must have "a significant decline in gross revenue" quarter by quarter over 2019. According to the IRS:"...An employer is considered to have a significant decline in gross receipts for the period beginning with the first calendar quarter in 2020 for which its gross receipts are less than 50 percent of gross receipts from the same calendar quarter in 2019 and ending with the earlier of January 1, 2021 or the first calendar quarter after the quarter for which gross receipts are greater than 80 percent of gross receipts for the same calendar quarter in 2019."
If that IRS gobbledygook doesn't make sense, they do give an example. [see the links below]
NOTE: This credit applies to qualifying wages paid between March 13, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
How does the credit work?
Essentially, for those quarters in which your gross revenues qualify, you can claim 50% of an employee's wages up to $10,000 as a payroll tax credit on your 941 filing per employee.
Little known tip:
How to get the credit paid to you!
On Form 941 there is a box you can check that instructs the IRS to apply the credit to your next 941 or send you a check for the overpayment.
This is much simpler than a PPP bank loan and without all the risks of the government changing the loan rules.
But, this is ONLY an Overview.
For more details here are some IRS links to get you started:
For the IRS overview:
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit
For the detail IRS FAQ:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-employee-retention-credit-under-the-cares-act
941 Form with Employee Retention Credit message:
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f941.pdf
And of course the typical disclaimer: What I've written should in no way be construed as complete or advice for you or your company. Please consult with your tax professional before taking any action.
Please share this with any business owners you know!
It could give them some much needed cash!
And, you'll be their friend for life!!!
If you'd like to chat about this Employee Retention Credit, or any other business issues you're having, just click here and Let's Chat! ~ George