Employers warned to beware of third parties promoting improper Employee Retention Credit claims
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued a warning to employers to be wary of third parties who are advising them to claim the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) when they may not qualify. Some third parties are taking improper positions related to taxpayer eligibility for and computation of the credit.
These third parties often charge large upfront fees or a fee that is contingent on the amount of the refund and may not inform taxpayers that wage deductions claimed on the business’ federal income tax return must be reduced by the amount of the credit.
If the business filed an income tax return deducting qualified wages before it filed an employment tax return claiming the credit, the business should file an amended income tax return to correct any overstated wage deduction.
Businesses are encouraged to be cautious of advertised schemes and direct solicitations promising tax savings that are too good to be true. Taxpayers are always responsible for the information reported on their tax returns. Improperly claiming the ERC could result in taxpayers being required to repay the credit along with penalties and interest.
What is the ERC?
The ERC is a refundable tax credit designed for businesses who continued paying employees while shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic or had significant declines in gross receipts from March 13, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2021. Eligible taxpayers can claim the ERC on an original or amended employment tax return for a period within those dates.
To be eligible for the ERC, employers must have:
- sustained a full or partial suspension of operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel, or group meetings due to COVID-19 during 2020 or the first three quarters of 2021,
- experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021, or
- qualified as a recovery startup business for the third or fourth quarters of 2021.
As a reminder, only recovery startup businesses are eligible for the ERC in the fourth quarter of 2021. Additionally, for any quarter, eligible employers cannot claim the ERC on wages that were reported as payroll costs in obtaining PPP loan forgiveness or that were used to claim certain other tax credits.
To report tax-related illegal activities relating to ERC claims, submit Form 3949-A, Information Referral. You should also report instances of fraud and IRS-related phishing attempts to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484.
Go to IRS.gov to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to claim the Employee Retention Credit :
- For qualified wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2021 –Notice 2021-20, Notice 2021-49, and Revenue Procedure 2021-33
- For qualified wages paid after Dec. 31, 2020, and before July 1, 2021 – Notice 2021-23, Notice 2021-49 and Revenue Procedure 2021-33
- For qualified wages paid after June 30, 2021, and before Oct. 1, 2021 – Notice 2021-49 and Revenue Procedure 2021-33
- For qualified wages paid after Sept. 30, 2021, and before Jan. 1, 2022 – Notice 2021-49 and Notice 2021-65
Employer Alert: Continue to Use Current Form I-9
Employers should continue using the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, after its expiration date of Oct. 31, 2022, until further notice. DHS will publish a Federal Register notice to announce the new version of the Form I-9 once it becomes available.
Get the HR Help Your Business Needs
Dealing with HR challenges can be a nightmare, especially if your business doesn’t have a designated human resources department or staff. But the repercussions of employment mistakes and issues can be costly. Protect your company by using HR Help by PPI, an affordably monthly subscription service that includes all the resources needed to handle HR needs with confidence.
HR Help by PPI includes unlimited personalized HR support, provided by experienced HR professionals. You also get access to an online HR library that’s packed with support materials, state-specific and federal HR regulations, and other resources. When your employees come due for state-mandated anti-harassment training, you can use the training within the platform to check that off your to-do list. And that’s not all you get!
Learn more about this powerful resource, available to you at an incredibly low price.
Upcoming Important Dates
November 11: Veteran’s Day (Payroll People OPEN, Federal Reserve Closed)Â
Non-processing day, allow an extra day for PPI Common and electronic deposit accounts
November 24: Thanksgiving (Payroll People and Federal Reserve Closed)
November 25: Black Friday (Payroll People CLOSED, Federal Reserve OPEN)