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3 Common

Questions & Misconceptions
About the ERTC

Why didn't my CPA/Accountant Tell Me About This?

  • IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT...

  • They are experts in tax rules and saving you the most amount of money on your taxes. This is a positive reflection on your CPA as they focused on what they are best at.  

  • THEY ARE LIKELY NOT VERSED ON HOW TO AVOID AN AUDIT WITH ERTC SPECIFICALLY...

  • Again, this does not reflect upon your CPA/Accountant, they are not trained in this. Our CPA firms will only send in your documents once they have covered every base to avoid audit issues.  On top of that our firms have everything in place for protection from audits.  

  • COMPLIANCE - COMPLIANCE - COMPLIANCE

  • This is the most important part aspect of providing ERTC services.  Our firm will only send in ERTC claims that are in full compliance with the ERTC stipulations. 
    We are focused on protecting our client's interests and because of this there's a lot of code to stay on top of... 


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  • THEY DIDN'T GET THE SPECIFIC TRAINING...

  • The information involved for ERTC is extensive and very detailed. 
    Our CPA firms are specialized solely in maximizing your relief rebates via ERTC. These payroll tax laws have become complicated with all the relief measures and amendments. And they will likely continue to change. Having a specialized ERTC  professional is critical to ensure you’re taking the right steps in reporting and compliance.

  • IF THEY PROVIDED THIS SERVICE, THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS...

  • A common issue we see, are business owners thinking they can just call their CPA/Accountant to get this done.  
    ERTC is an amazing cash rebate - Do you think you're CPA would've told you by now if they were trained in this? 
    Go with the experts in ERTC and let your CPA/Accountant continue to provide you with their expertise in taxes.

  • THEY ARE WISE FOR NOT "JUMPING IN"...

  • They know the risks associated with not having paid for the training and taken the time to learn all about handling the ERTC process. The concern is when a CPA/Accountant tries to handle this, "on the side" ...they are putting you at risk of an eventual Audit. 

    So why audit risk?  Think about it - the IRS doesn't hand money out freely. They are going to be certain no one is taking advantage and trying to sneak more of a rebate than necessary. It's a detailed, laborious process that only training, which our CPA firms have taken, will protect you from. 

    I Found A Cheaper Service - Why Go Through You?

  • One Word. AUDIT. 

    Last thing your business wants is to stir up an audit, which is unfortunately a risk with improper ERTC submissions.  

    We provide audit-proof supporting documentation giving you a peace of mind.

  • This is ALL we do. ERTC. All day, everyday. 

    Our CPAs only focus on ERTC.  
    Until the CARES Act monies runs out, our CPAs keep up with all of the complicated details of ERTC.  

  • Our process is no cost or obligation. Only upon agreement to submit are there fees which can be deferred - options will be presented at that time.

  • Trained specifically for the purpose of getting you the maximum rebate due to you, while doing it under the strict IRS guidelines.

  • We have several CPA firms under contract that are specifically focused on this. We are an agency that saw this 3 year window of an opportunity to help as many businesses as possible get their money due to them. 

  • We help facilitate the process between you and the CPA firm helping your cash rebate show up in your bank account sooner than later. 

  • Higher Refund amounts through our firm.

    Our average ERTC refund is 80% higher than the national average. 


    Why? 


    Answer: The others mostly use a software to only calculate your revenue loss, not all of the government mandates, face to face meetings, supply chain disruptions, etc, etc ... these factors can increase your amount due back to you. 

    However, most only input your #'s into a software and call it a day.  

I Already Got the PPP Loan, So I Don't Qualify...

  • This is one of the most common and costly assumptions that are made.

  • Initially this was true, however the IRS changed this to a YES, if you claimed your PPP loan, you can STILL claim your ERTC Rebate.  Reference IRS Site here

  • Most businesses still qualify for some kind of a rebate if you have already claimed your PPP loan.  Sometimes it will be less, depending on various factors. 

  • Our CPA firms also know how to work with your PPP loan to help you maximize the ERTC cash rebate that's due to you.  One of the benefits of their expertise in their training.  

  • Fact is: There is no cost or obligation to see how much you qualify for. You can rest assured that working with our specifically trained team on ERTC, your claim will be submitted properly, not triggering issues for you. As well as maximizing your rebates due to you. 

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Why Choose ERC GOV?

  • Guaranteed To Maximize Refundable Credits For Local And Small To Medium Sized Businesses

  • So Easy That Your Entire Commitment Is 15 Minutes

  • No Upfront Fees To Get Qualified - 100% Contingent On Your Refund

  • Audit-Proof Documentation For IRS Support

  • No Other CPA Firm Offers The 15 Minute Refund™

We only specialize in maximizing Employee Retention Tax Credits for small business owners. You won’t find us preparing income taxes, compiling financial statements, or providing attestation services of any kind.


When you engage us, rest assured that you’ve hired the best CPA Firm to lock in this one-time opportunity for a large refund check from the IRS.

FAQ's

Most frequent questions and answers

WHAT IS THE EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT (ERTC) AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP)? ...▶

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. It included two programs to assist businesses with keeping workers employed: the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) administered by the Small Business Administration and Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) administered by the Internal Revenue Service.


PPP funds are distributed based on 2.5 months of payroll and a minimum of 80% of the funds must be used on payroll to be eligible for forgiveness. Additionally, PPP funds are not taxable as revenue and you may still take deductions for the payroll covered by PPP.


ERTC tax credits, however, are credits (or refunds) for a percentage of payroll in each quarter that you qualify. There are specific rules for determining eligibility by quarter, and limiting the dollars that can be claimed for each employee.

I GOT PPP FUNDS ALREADY. CAN I ALSO GET ERTC? ...▶

YES!


Initially with the CARES Act, employers could choose to apply for PPP or claim ERTC credits, but not both.


PPP was more beneficial than ERTC for most businesses (for reasons we won’t go into here) and so most businesses with under 500 employees received forgivable PPP Loans.


On March 11, 2021, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law and included many modifications and expansions to existing elements of previous stimulus programs.

Noteworthy modifications for business owners included:


Businesses who applied for and received PPP funds could now also claim ERTC credits.ERTC credits could be retroactively claimed for businesses that qualified in 2020.ERTC credits were extended through 9/30/21 with lower qualification requirements.The per-employee cap on qualifying wages increased from $10,000 for all of 2020 to $10,000 per quarter for the first 3 quarters of 2021.The refundable credit amount increased from 50% of qualifying wages in 2020 to 70% in 2021.So the short answer is “Yes” . . . you can claim ERTC even if you received PPP funds.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR ERTC TAX CREDITS? ...▶

Unlike the Payroll Protection Program (administered by the Small Business Administration), there is actually no “application process” for the Employee Retention Tax Credits.


You simply claim the ERTC tax credit like you would any other tax credit – by asserting to the IRS that you can legally claim the credit.

When you claim a child tax credit, you do so by asserting this fact on your Form 1020 Personal Income Tax Return.


The difference is that when you claim an ERTC tax credit, you do so on your Form 941 Employer Quarterly Tax Filing.


For prior quarters, you must file an amended form (the Form 941-X) to reduce your current quarter’s tax contribution and request a refund of excess credits (which is highly likely).


Another perk of ERTC, is that since you can often estimate these credits in advance of distributing cash for payroll, you can file a Form 7200 to receive a cash advance to avoid waiting until the end of the quarter to apply for the refund.

I THOUGHT THE TAX CREDIT WAS FOR 2020? ...▶

You’re right - it was originally a 2020 credit. And it was either the Paycheck Protection Program OR ERTC.


Almost every business chose the PPP option. The ERTC was not widely used until March 2021, when the American Rescue Act changed IRS regulations and millions of businesses were now eligible for both the PPP and ERTC program by amending their Quarterly Form(s) 941.

MY REVENUE IN Q1 2021 IS BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS - SO I MUST BE INELIGIBLE - RIGHT? ...▶

Even though you may feel like revenue is back to normal, there are some items you want to consider before passing on this ERTC assessment.


First, even if revenues have returned to “normal” in 2021, you may have qualified in 2020 and you can retroactively claim those credits. That eligibility criteria in 2020 was based on revenue declines from 2019, or if your business was partially or fully closed due to governmental mandate.


Second, while your revenue may have returned to “normal” in Q1 2021, remember that we are comparing your Q1 2021 to Q1 2019. If 2019 was a year of growth for your business, then your revenue levels 2 years ago may have been much less than Q1 2020.


And lastly, if your revenues were down in Q4 2020 by just 20% compared to Q4 2019, then you may also be eligible for Q1 2021. There is a safe harbor provision that few advisors are talking about, and it means that many businesses are qualifying for $7,000 per employee in Q1 2021.


I know, it seems too good to be true, but the government wants to incentivize and reward you for keeping US residents employed and money flowing through our economy as we rebuild bigger and stronger than before.

I THOUGHT PAYROLL TAXES DEFERRED IN 2020 HAD TO BE RE-PAID. DOES ERTC WORK THE SAME WAY? ...▶

You are most likely referring to a provision of the CARES Act that allowed employers to defer the deposit and payment of the employer’s share of Social Security taxes. Those deferrals must then be repaid – with at least 50% of the balance due by 12/31/21 and the remaining balance due by 12/31/22.


ERTC credits are NOT a deferral. They are dollar-for-dollar credits against wages you’ve paid. Not taxes you’ve paid, but actual wages.


These credits can offset future tax contributions or you can receive a refund check – it’s your choice.


And you will NOT have to re-pay these funds (unless, of course, you don’t provide adequate documentation in the course of an audit).


WHY ISN'T MY BANK (OR MY CPA) TALKING ABOUT THIS? ...▶

Your banker, CPA, or Financial Advisor was probably very helpful when it came to getting your PPP funds because they were effectively signing you to an SBA-guaranteed loan. The SBA paid the bank administrative fees based on the PPP loans they made, and so they were incentivized to educate you about the program and get all your paperwork in order.


Compared to the ERTC, the PPP program was also a rather simple calculation. 2 ½ times your average monthly payroll including health insurance and state unemployment taxes.


From the conversations we’ve had with bankers, they have no interest in involving themselves in your employment tax compliance. For them it is a liability and beyond their scope of services.

WHAT ABOUT MY PAYROLL SERVICE PROVIDER? SHOULDN'T THEY BE ON TOP OF THIS? ...▶

Your Payroll Service does an excellent job of executing the fundamentals of paying your employees, paying your employment taxes and filing your quarterly reports.


But computing your ERTC credits requires visibility into your P&L and PPP forgiveness applications. Not only that, but the complex requirements around eligibility and allocating ERTC credits at the employee-level while accounting for annual and quarterly qualifying wage gaps and . . . well, you can probably tell why Payroll Services are not offering to do all of this for you.


The Payroll Services that we’ve worked with so far are happy to provide the payroll registers that we need to perform the allocations. And they are happy to file the Amended Form 941-X with the IRS on our client’s behalf.


But that’s the extent of it.


In fact, most wise Payroll Services are asking clients to sign an indemnification waiver before submitting a Form 941-X because the Payroll Service can take no responsibility for the accuracy of the ERTC credits you are claiming.


For them to involve themselves in the intricacies of this calculation, it is a liability and beyond their scope of services.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THE IRS WEBSITE? ...▶

Read Notice 2021-20 on the official IRS FAQ Site: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-23.pdf

WILL MY TAX CPA HANDLE THIS FOR ME SINCE THEY HANDLE MY INCOME TAX RETURNS? ...▶

Whether your tax accountant is a CPA or EA, he or she most likely only prepares your Federal and State Income Tax Returns. However, ERTC credits are claimed against Employment Taxes on Form 941, and cash advanced through Form 7200.


The complexity of the ERTC program is a beast unto itself and every tax accountant we’ve talked to has said they focus on staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving income tax code, and they can’t now become experts in the ERTC program as well.


If your tax accountant is comfortable determining your eligibility by quarter and year, computing your credits, and preparing contemporaneous documentation to support an IRS audit, then you should certainly let them handle all of this.


If you want a second set of eyes on this, we’re happy to take a look.

MY BOOKKEEPER HAS ALL MY INFO . . . CAN THEY HANDLE MY ERTC CLAIMS? ...▶

Your Bookkeeper should certainly have access to all the information that is needed for an accurate calculation of your legal ERTC claim. They will have your financial reports, payroll registers, and PPP loan forgiveness documents.


The Million Dollar Question is . . . Do They Have The Time?


• Do they have the time to dig into the text of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

• And its accompanying referenced laws like: CARES Act, Families First Act, Payroll & Healthcare Enhancement Act, PPP Payroll Flexibility Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act. 

• Time to read the IRS Interpretations and FAQ’s? And cross-reference those definitions with that of PPP which was separately defined and dissimilarly interpreted in the Small Business Administration’s Bulletins and IFRs?

• Do they have the time to ensure accuracy in eligibility determination, maximize your computation and create the supporting documentation you’ll need to support an IRS audit of employer taxes?


So far, we have not found a bookkeeper who is able to take all this on, while handling the day-to-day of bookkeeping. If yours can, then take them up on their offer. We’re happy to take a second look.

I KNOW ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT MIGHT QUALIFY; CAN THEY APPLY HERE, TOO? ...▶

Absolutely! Our professional team is equipped and ready to help as many businesses as possible to apply for their ERC funds. We welcome you to share this site. Sharing is caring!

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