Small and medium sized businesses were impacted hardest by
COVID-19.
The ERC was developed to encourage businesses owners to retain
employees during the pandemic.
Eligible employers can receive up to $26,000 per employee through
this Payroll tax credit.
Due to the pandemic Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help small and medium sizes
businesses. The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) is a special
section specifically intended for businesses like yours.
American Rescue Plan Act – 2021-The credit remains at 70% of
qualified wages up to a $10,000 limit per quarter so a maximum of
$7,000 per employee per quarter. So, an employer could claim
$7,000 per quarter per employee or up to $21,000 for 2021. The
passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act changed the
end date of the program for most businesses to Sept. 30, 2021.
However, Recovery Startup Businesses are still eligible for ERC
through the end of the year. A Recovery Startup Business is one
that started after Feb. 15, 2020 and, in general, had an average
of $1 million or less in gross receipts. They could be eligible to
take a credit of up to $50,000 for the third and fourth quarters
of 2021.
Consolidated Appropriations Act – 2021
Employers who qualify, including PPP recipients, can claim a
credit against 70% of qualified wages paid. Additionally, the
amount of wages that qualifies for the credit is now $10,000 per
employee per quarter for the first two quarters of 2021.
Can I get both the ERC and PPP Loan?
Yes. While an employer may not include wages funded by a PPP loan
in the ERC calculation, PPP funds only apply to eight to ten weeks
of wage expenses. The ERC eligibility periods are longer. PPP
loans can also fund non-wage expenses.
For ERC purposes.
PPP funding may be allocated to wages that would not generate any
ERC (e.g., to owners of the company or to wages in excess of
$10,000 in one of the four ERC credit-generating periods).