Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
The federal hiring credit most employers already qualify for.
Overview
WOTC is a federal program that rewards employers for hiring people from groups that often face barriers to work. If you already hire hourly or entry-level staff, there is a good chance some of your new hires count. The credit is claimed on your business tax return after the right paperwork is filed on time.
Who qualifies
- Employers of any size that pay federal taxes
- New hires who belong to a recognized target group
- Employees who work a minimum number of hours after their start date
- Hires screened before or on the day a job offer is made
How much is available
The value depends on the target group, the wages paid, and the hours worked. Amounts change with federal guidance, so we calculate your range from your actual hiring data instead of publishing a fixed figure.
Required documentation
- Pre-screening notice completed at the time of the job offer
- Certification request filed with your state workforce agency
- Proof of hours worked and qualified wages from payroll
- Certification letters retained for audit support
Important deadlines
- Screening happens on or before the day the offer is made
- Certification requests are time-sensitive after the start date
- Credits are claimed with your business tax return for the year
How the process runs
Screen every new hire
A short questionnaire added to onboarding — no extra work for your team.
File for certification
We prepare and submit requests to the right state workforce agency.
Track hours and wages
We pull the payroll data needed to support each certified hire.
Claim and document
You receive a clean, audit-ready package for your tax filing.
Examples from the field
Regional restaurant group
High turnover meant hundreds of new hires a year. Adding screening to onboarding turned routine hiring into a recurring credit stream.
Light manufacturing plant
A seasonal ramp-up produced dozens of qualified hires that had never been screened before.
Common questions
Programs that often pair with this one
Find out what WOTC could be worth to you.
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