Make keystone profits in 2024 with the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program rewards employers who hire and retain disadvantaged job-seekers. The amount of credit an employer can claim is calculated as a percentage of wages paid to WOTC-eligible new hires, after the employee reaches certain hours-worked milestones.
Employers in Pennsylvania received over 75,000 total WOTC certifications in 2023, accounting for approximately $167.5MM in tax credits. No matter your industry, business type, or size, the WOTC promises to ease your tax liability and boost your bottom line if smartly integrated into your hiring process.
Which employees in Pennsylvania qualify for the WOTC?
In order to claim WOTC credits, employers in Pennsylvania must screen applicants on or before the day on which they extend a job offer. Screening applicants determines whether or not the applicant belongs to a WOTC target group.
In 2023, nearly 80% of employees for whom employers gained WOTC certification were eligible for receiving SNAP benefits. Approximately 15% were eligible for being long-term unemployment recipients, or receiving TANF or other forms of government benefits.
Beyond this, about 5% of WOTC certifications in Pennsylvania were issued to businesses for hiring qualified veterans.
Finally, nearly 1000 WOTC certifications were issued to businesses for hiring employees deemed to be part of the Designated Community Resident targeted group. The Designated Community Resident target group makes residents of federally-designated Empowerment Zones or Rural Renewal Counties eligible for WOTC. Such areas in Pennsylvania include:
- Philadelphia, PA/Camden, NJ Empowerment Zone, which includes parts of the cities of Philadelphia.
- Venango and Warren Counties, which are designated as Rural Renewal Counties.
How much WOTC credit can I claim in Pennsylvania?
The amount of WOTC credit you can claim depends on a number of factors, including your industry, the number of WOTC-eligible employees you hire, the number of hours those employees work, and the basis of their WOTC certification.
Companies within different industries tend to demonstrate unique hiring behavior, which affects the amount of WOTC credit they can earn. You may estimate the total WOTC credit you can earn within your industry using Arvo’s WOTC calculator. Popular industries for claiming the WOTC in Pennsylvania include staffing, trucking, manufacturing, and restaurants.
The amount of WOTC credit you can claim per eligible employee is capped according to the employee’s basis for eligibility, or target group. A list of maximum allowable credits for the five most commonly certified target groups in Pennsylvania in 2023 follows.
- Qualified SNAP benefits recipient: $2400
- Qualified veteran: $9600
- Qualified IV-A recipient: $2400
- Long-term family assistance recipient: $2400
- Qualified SSI recipient: $2400
Employers can’t control every factor that helps determine the amount of WOTC credit they can claim. One factor they can exercise some control over, however, is the certification rate of their WOTC-eligible new hires. According to the Department of Labor, the State Workforce Agency in Pennsylvania issued certification for approximately 31% of WOTC eligibility applications in 2023. Pennsylvania businesses who work with Arvo Tech, on the other hand, enjoy certification rates of 47%.
What is the process of claiming the WOTC in Pennsylvania?
You can claim WOTC credits in Pennsylvania by following six simple steps.
- Determine eligibility
You must screen applicants to determine eligibility on or before the day on which a job offer is made - Complete certification forms
Employers request WOTC certification from the appropriate state workforce agency (SWA) - Submit forms to SWA
Forms must be submitted to your SWA within 28 days of the WOTC-eligible employee’s hire date - Receive documentation
The SWA will issue documentation substantiating their certification or denial of the employee’s WOTC eligibility - Claim the WOTC
WOTC credits are claimed on an annual basis along with a business’s tax return - Seek professional help
Businesses who achieve optimal WOTC benefits often do so with the help of experts like Arvo Tech
How Arvo helps
Ready to claim the WOTC in Pennsylvania? We have helped over 120 businesses in Pennsylvania navigate the lucrative but complicated world of employment tax credits. Whether you are brand new to WOTC, or seek to optimize your current WOTC participation, our team of tax experts is here to help you boost your bottom line by up to 40%.
Plus, our seamless integration with major applicant tracking systems and payroll providers make claiming the WOTC in Pennsylvania easier than ever.
Contact us today to get answers or expert support for WOTC.