December 17, 2015

The house just approved the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015. This bill reauthorizes the WOTC program retroactive to 01/01/2015 through 12/31/2019. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) was modified and extended through 2019. Additionally, beginning in 2016 employers who hire qualified long-term unemployed individuals (those who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more.) The Empowerment Zone (EZ) Credit has been extended through 2016 the tax benefits for certain businesses and employers operating in empowerment zones. The Empowerment Zone credit provides any business located within EZ a credit on the first $15,000 of qualified wages paid to each employee who resides in an EZ. The Indian employment tax credit has been extended through 2016. The Indian employment credit provides a credit on the first $20,000 of qualified wages paid to each qualified employee who works on an Indian reservation