If you own a small business, you might be overpaying on your taxes. Learn about the different payroll tax credits for 2023 here.
In these difficult economic times, it’s critical that those in the USA find any possible relief that they can in terms of taxes. This is why the government came up with credit taxes on payroll, in order for companies to not find it any harder to conduct business profit margins.
But where can you find all the information on payroll tax credits? In this piece, we’ll give you the lowdown on what they are, how they work, and some of the payroll tax credits you can use in the year 2023. Read on!
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
WOTC is an incentive for employers to hire individuals from target groups who generally have the greatest difficulty finding employment. The credit is available to employers hiring individuals who qualify through one of nine designated categories, including:
- Qualified veterans
- TANF recipients
- Designated community residents
- Ex-felons
The credit is generally a one-time tax credit against the taxes owed by the employer and is available only during the first year of employment. Employers must submit a WOTC application to the Department of Labor to take advantage of the credit.
Employers must provide relevant certifications. It ensures that they are hiring individuals who fall into one of the target categories.
Health Coverage Tax Credit
HCTC is a tax credit available to certain individuals and their families who are also enrolled in a qualifying health plan. It’s designed to help those who have lost their jobs or are facing financial stress.
Individuals eligible for the tax credit can receive up to 72.5 percent of their monthly premium costs for a qualifying health plan. Eligibility for the credit also requires that the individual or family have an income at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. They also pay at least half of the premium cost themselves.
It is also available to eligible individuals and families who have lost their job due to foreign trade, veterans and those who receive trade readjustment allowances, and those who receive payments from the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation.
The tax credit is also applied to a qualifying health plan, whether it’s purchased through a public health exchange or a private insurer. It’s also used to reduce taxes owed or receive a refund when filing taxes.
Child and Dependent Care Credit
The Child and Dependent Care Credit is a US federal tax credit. It is designed to help families with the cost of maintaining dependent care services in order to stay in the workforce.
It is available to filers who pay for childcare for children 12 and younger or adult dependents who are unable to care for themselves. With the credit, a taxpayer can reduce their tax liability by up to 35% of qualified childcare expenses.
To qualify, the expenses must be made to pay a childcare provider so that the filer can work or look for work. Expenses must be incurred in order to support the taxpayer’s working status or, in some cases, to attend school or job training.
It helps families offset expenses related to the care of children and adult dependents. It is a useful tool for families looking to reduce their tax liability.
Retirement Savings Contribution Credit
Retirement Savings Contribution Credit, or Saver’s Credit, is a tax credit designed to encourage individuals to save more for retirement. It’s available to eligible taxpayers who may otherwise be unable to contribute to their retirement accounts with the help of special tax incentives.
This credit is a great way to maximize savings—it allows individuals to reduce or even eliminate their tax bill and make contributions to their retirement accounts when it otherwise may have been impossible. It has a maximum amount of $2,000 for single filers and $4,000 for joint filers each year.
The credit applies to contributions made to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and qualified employer retirement plans such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. To be eligible for the retirement savings contribution credit, you must not exceed certain income limits, and the contributions must be voluntary and under your own name.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
A large portion of the credit is refundable, which provides a tax refund to those who might have paid little or no taxes.
It is also available to taxpayers with qualifying children and taxpayers without qualifying children. Those with qualifying children will receive a larger credit than those without.
Qualifying income is limited, and the filing status must be either married, filing jointly, head of household, or single. Eligibility for the credit may result in a reduction or refund of federal income tax liability.
Qualified Paid Sick Leave Credit
The Qualified Paid Sick Leave Credit (QPSLC) is a part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. It was signed into law in March 2020 to help businesses and employees during the global pandemic.
It provides businesses with refundable tax credits for wages that are paid to employees who are unable to work due to being quarantined or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19. Eligible businesses can receive a credit of up to 100% of these wages, which are capped at $511 per day per employee and $5,110 in total.
The credit also includes the employee’s absences due to a school or place of care closing or for the employee to care for a family member under similar conditions. Businesses with fewer than 500 employees are eligible for this assistance, which is available for wages paid from April 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.
American Opportunity Tax Credit
The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is a tax credit designed by the government to help students pay for college costs. This tax credit is worth up to $2,500 per eligible student, and it can also be shared by multiple people.
The AOTC is for students who are working towards a degree and who have not completed the first four years of education. It can be used for up to four years and can be claimed for each eligible student in a family.
This tax credit is designed to help families with the high costs associated with college. Additionally, unlike many tax credits, the AOTC is refundable, meaning that if the credit is more than what you owe, the government will give you the difference back in the form of a refund.
With the AOTC, families can receive money back if they have paid college expenses within the last four years.
Business Tax Credits
Business tax credits are reductions in certain taxes that businesses pay to the government. These credits may be available in a variety of forms and may reduce taxes on profits, wages, and investments.
They are an incentive for businesses to invest in new capital and create additional jobs. Business owners who qualify for these credits may be able to save considerable amounts of money over the course of their operation.
Tax credits can be claimed against both federal and state income taxes. Many states also offer incentive programs that grant additional credits and benefits to businesses that have operated in the state.
In addition, businesses may also take advantage of various tax deductions, such as those for business expenses, research and development costs, and charitable giving.
The Disabled Access Credit
The Disabled Access Credit (DAC) is a tax incentive that encourages businesses to make their services and public offerings more disabled-accessible. This credit is available to any eligible small business with gross receipts of less than $1 million or with fewer than 30 full-time employees.
Businesses can receive up to $50,000 to help offset the cost of making their facilities accessible to disabled patrons and employees. This credit can be used for a variety of expenses, such as removing architectural and communication barriers, installing ramps, and purchasing adaptive equipment, among others.
The goal of the credit is to help smaller businesses achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and ultimately improve access for individuals with disabilities. It is a valuable incentive for any business hoping to become more inclusive for disabled customers and employees.
Qualified Family Leave Credit
Qualified Family Leave Credit is also a provision of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). It provides refundable payroll tax credits to employers who voluntarily provide emergency paid sick or family leave to their employees due to the coronavirus.
The credit covers up to 12 weeks of paid leave for an eligible employee’s same or different public health emergency. The amount of the credit is equal to the wages paid up to a daily maximum.
The credit is first applied against the employer’s share of Social Security taxes and then as an income tax refund to the employer, who can use it to offset other payroll tax obligations such as Workers’ Compensation.
It is intended to help businesses financially struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic and to encourage employers to voluntarily provide family leave for employees in need.
Employee Retention Credit
Employee Retention Credit is a tax credit created by the CARES Act. It helps businesses retain employees during the coronavirus pandemic. The credit provides a refundable payroll tax credit to employers of all sizes who retain their employees on the payroll.
Employers that are can get a credit of up to $5,000 per employee (up to $10,000 if eligible) for wages paid. The amount of the credit can be up to 50% of employee wages (up to $10,000 in wages), capped at $5,000 total credit per employee.
The credit is designed to provide a financial incentive for businesses. It keeps their current employees on the payroll and helps them avoid layoffs or other cost-cutting measures.
Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a tax incentive designed to encourage small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to provide health insurance for their employees. The credit applies to businesses with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees making an average yearly wage of $50,000 or less.
The credit is available to qualifying small employers that provide health insurance coverage to their employees. It is a refundable tax credit that may be equal to 50% of premium costs incurred by the employer for providing health care coverage to those employees.
The Premium Tax Credit
The Premium Tax Credit provides financial assistance to help eligible individuals and families. It covers the costs of health insurance plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The credit is also based on the taxpayer’s household income, and it’s used to reduce the cost of premiums or received as a refundable tax credit.
The credit is applied toward the cost of a health plan each month, reducing the monthly premium amount. Those eligible will still have to pay the remaining balance of their monthly premium to keep their health insurance coverage.
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax is the amount of money that U.S. taxpayers need to pay the government each year. Unpaid payroll taxes are taxes that are not paid in full to the government by an employer.
These taxes are specific to employers and include Social Security and Medicare taxes, as well as federal income tax. It can lead to significant fines and penalties, including wage garnishment and liens against a company’s property or assets.
It’s also considered a “trust fund” liability. It means the employer is liable for payment even if the employees have already been paid their wages. Employers must set aside sufficient amounts of money to pay these taxes, as failure to do so can result in serious consequences.
Learn More About Payroll Tax Credits Today
2023 is shaping up to be a great year for payroll tax credits. With the new tax laws and a myriad of available credits, businesses should take advantage while they can.
Take the time to review available credits and apply them to reduce taxable income and increase profits. Let’s make 2023 the best year yet!