The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) provides an incentive to hire individuals from targeted groups that have a particularly high unemployment rate or other special employment needs. In most cases, the credit can be as much as 40% of the "qualified first year wages" up to $9,600.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the WOTC for qualified veterans hired after December 31, 2012, and before January 1, 2014, and retroactively extended the WOTC for other targeted group members (described below) who begin work after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2014.

You must obtain certification from your state employment security agency that an individual is a targeted group member before you may claim the credit. Generally, you obtain certification by submitting Form 8850 (PDF), Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Credit, to the state employment security agency.  The form must be submitted not later than the 28th day after the individual begins work for you.

Newly hired individuals from the following targeted groups might qualify you for this tax credit:

You can calculate the credit by completing Form 5884 (PDF), Work Opportunity Credit, with the business' tax return. Taxpayers claim the credit on Form 3800 (PDF), as part of the General Business Credit.

For information on the WOTC available to qualified tax-exempt organizations that hire qualified veterans, see Work Opportunity Tax Credit Extended.

The health coverage tax credit (HCTC) is a refundable tax credit that pays 72.5% of qualified health plan premiums for certain trade-affected workers, retirees, and their families.  From May 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 the HCTC paid 80% and from January 1, 2011 through December 31 2011 the HCTC paid 65% of the qualified health plan premiums.  

The HCTC is a unique tax credit that eligible individuals can receive either monthly as their health plan premium becomes due or yearly on their federal tax return.  You can learn more about this valuable tax credit, including who is eligible for the credit, on the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Program pages on this website.