Those that are trying to qualify for Employee Retention Tax Credit must understand the qualifications that are required. Aside from the the trials of the pandemic that must be survived, you must also have a minimum number of employees to be qualified. This can be determined from your church or company. Depending on the number of full-time employees, you may qualify for the maximum credit that the ERTC provides.
ERTC maximum credit
If you own a business and are considering claiming Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), you'll want to know about the maximum credit qualification. This is a refundable tax credit, which allows an eligible employer to reduce taxes. It's based on 70 percent of qualified wages. For example, if your restaurant has lost 20 percent of its gross receipts, you can claim a $7,000 tax credit for each employee.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) both expanded the ERTC program. ARP provided additional categories of businesses that may qualify for the credit, such as recovery startups and severely distressed businesses. CAA also sped up the expiration date of the ERTC credit, extending the credit through the end of 2021.
In order to be eligible for ERTC, an employer must have a minimum of 100 full-time employees. For this reason, many business owners assume that they're ineligible if their income hasn't dropped more than 50 percent. However, it is important to check your eligibility with your accountant.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, employers of all sizes faced financial hardship. Luckily, the CARES Act introduced ERTC as a way to encourage businesses to keep their employees. While ERTC is still a complicated tax credit, it can help struggling businesses with the tax burden.
A ERTC can be claimed against a maximum of $10,000 per employee per quarter. For example, a restaurant that has lost 20% of its gross receipts can request a $7,000 tax credit for each employee in the first quarter of 2021. ERTC can be used to offset federal Social Security and Railroad Retirement Act taxes. However, the amount of tax you can deduct from your gross receipts will depend on how much money you have to spend on wages.
ERTC can be a valuable tool for your business. If you have a large number of employees, speak with an accountant or payroll preparer to determine the best way to take advantage of the credit. Also, note that if your business has been suspended by a government order, you're still eligible.
Employers with over 500 employees
There are a number of important changes to the ERTC program in 2021. These changes include a new deadline. The ERTC program will be closed to eligible employers on October 1, 2021. This change is made as part of the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act.
While most ERTC restrictions have been removed, there are still a few important things to understand about the program. If your business is a large qualifying employer, you may be eligible to claim qualified wages. Qualified wages are wages paid to employees during periods of significant decline in gross receipts. A full-time employee is defined as 30 or more per week or 130 hours per month. In addition, all full-time employees during periods of shutdown or business suspension are qualified.
For businesses that qualify, there is also the opportunity to claim a refundable portion of the ERTC. This means that an employer can claim a credit on 70 percent of the wages it pays its employees. The refundable portion is reported on line 13d of Form 941. Generally, you must pay the ERTC amount back within two years of the date you paid the tax.
However, if you are not able to repay the ERTC refund, you will face penalties. Fortunately, the IRS has provided guidance on how to avoid these penalties.
Another change in the ERTC program is that the credit may be secured by filing an amended Form 941. Businesses that qualify should discuss this with their accountant. When calculating the ERTC, you should remember to include qualified health plan expenses on line 22.
To determine the ERTC, calculate the number of full-time equivalent employees and the qualified wages you paid to these employees during the eligible period. Then, you can calculate the refundable portion and subtract quarterly deposits.
The ERTC is a great way to help reduce your tax liability. You can apply for advance payment, or you can calculate your ERTC retroactively. Whatever method you use, make sure that your payroll data is correct. Contact Mize CPAs to discuss your business and see if you are eligible to claim the ERTC.
Employers with more than 100 full-time employees
The Employee Retention Credit (ERTC) is a refundable payroll tax credit for employers. It is designed to help small businesses and other eligible entities that have faced a significant decline in gross receipts.
ERTC is based on an employer's average number of full-time employees during a calendar quarter. Employers may claim up to $7,000 per employee. For 2020 and 2021, the tax credit is based on an average of 100 or fewer employees.
A qualified employee is defined as someone who works over 30 hours per week. An eligible employer is a business that has changed its operations in response to a government order. Generally, an eligible employer is a small business, a nonprofit, or a section 501(c)(1) organization.
To qualify for the ERC, the employer must have a gross receipts percentage less than or equal to 80% in the first calendar quarter of the year and a 50% reduction in the same quarter of the previous year. Businesses are also eligible if they have a total of 50 or more full-time employees. Alternatively, if the business is severely financially distressed, it is eligible if it had a gross receipts reduction of at least 90%.
A full-time employee is considered to be working over 30 hours per week and performing services over 130 hours per month. During a qualified period, the employer must report the total qualified wages on Form 941. Qualified wages include the wages paid to employees, health plan costs, and employee compensation. They also include cash tips. However, cash tips of less than $20 are not considered qualified wages.
The total amount of qualified wages for an employer is calculated on line 21 of the Form 941. Line 22 lists qualified health plan expenses. If the qualified wage is greater than $10,000 per quarter, the employer is subject to income taxes. Using the worksheet provided by the IRS, an employer can calculate the maximum tax credit.
The employer must complete the requisite form and file it with the IRS before the end of the qualifying period. Failure to do so may result in a penalty.
Churches with 10 qualified employees
There is a very significant tax benefit available to churches with 10 qualified employees. Specifically, churches are eligible for an ERTC (Employer Recovery Tax Credit) that provides a tax refund. The credit is applied to the church's tax payments that were made in the year 2020. Assuming the church pays an average of $40-$50 per quarter in total wages, the church could receive as much as $100,000 in a tax refund.
Eligible churches are required to pay at least 30% non-clergy wages, and pay at least $40-$50 per quarter in total wages. In addition, they must experience a 20% or greater decline in their gross receipts for the first two quarters of 2020, and must qualify under a government shutdown.
For the first two quarters of 2021, the maximum credit is $14,000 per employee. For the first two quarters of 2021, a church may recover up to 70% of its qualified health plan benefits. If the church does not qualify for the ERTC, it can apply for a tax credit for the difference between its 2021 gross receipts and the 2021 gross receipts of the preceding year.
For churches with smaller staffs, there are other options to consider. For example, a church with two full-time employees can purchase employer-based group medical coverage. This allows the church to enjoy deeper volume discounts. Another option is to buy health insurance through a private exchange. However, the tax benefit associated with this option is reduced because it is considered FICA wages.
Whether you have just a few qualified employees or several hundred, it is important to make sure that your church staff is paid well. This will boost morale and increase productivity. Besides, the happier your employees are, the better off your church will be. By keeping your payroll and tax information up to date, you can keep your pastor and your congregation informed on changes in the law and trends in the marketplace.
