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Work Opportunity Tax Credit

On December 22, 2017, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. The information in this article predates the tax reform legislation and may not apply to tax returns starting in the 2018 tax year. You may wish to speak to your tax advisor about the latest tax law. This publication is provided for your convenience and does not constitute legal advice. This publication is protected by copyright.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Employers may elect to claim a work opportunity credit (WOTC) for a percentage of first-year wages, generally up to $6,000 per employee, for hiring workers from a targeted group. The credit is in lieu of deducting the compensation on which the credit is based as an expense on the employer’s tax return. First-year wages are wages paid during the tax year for work performed during the one-year period beginning on the date the target group member begins work for the employer.

  • Generally, the credit is 40% of first-year wages (but not exceeding $6,000), for a maximum credit of $2,400 (.4 × $6,000). For certain qualified veterans, the credit may be claimed on up to $24,000 of wages. 
  • The credit is reduced to 25% for employees who have completed at least 120 hours, but less than 400 hours of service for the employer. No credit is allowed for an employee who has worked fewer than 120 hours. 
Targeted groups include veterans, qualified long-term unemployment recipients and others. Please call this office for further details.

This credit sunsets (expires) after 2019.




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