CMS Work Opportunity Tax Credit Newsletter May 2026

CMS Work Opportunity Tax Credit Newsletter May 2026

In this issue:

• Reminder to Customers: Send WOTC Surveys Within 28 Days of Employee’s Start Date
• WOTC Wednesday: Can I Get a Report on How Many People Qualified for WOTC?
• HR.com Speaks with Brian Kelly About iRecruit, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
• Understanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit’s Target Groups: Qualified Veteran
• #ICYMI

 

Reminder to Customers: Send WOTC Surveys Within 28 Days of Employee’s Start Date

• DON’T MISS OUT ON TAX CREDITS! We would like to remind customers to continue to screen new hires within the 28 day time frame.
• Screen Every New Hire: Don’t miss out on potential tax credits—screen everyone!
• Check Your WOTC URL/Links: Make sure your WOTC onboarding links are active. Please let us know if you need updates.
• 28-Day Deadline: WOTC forms must be submitted within 28 days of the new hire’s start date to remain eligible. (Yes, it bears repeating)
• Review your company contacts in the ORGANIZATION INFORMATION tab in the Admin Portal to confirm everything is current.

 

 

HR.com Speaks with Brian Kelly About iRecruit, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Brian Kelly, Managing Partner of CMS iRecruit, speaks with Sue Morton of HR.com Live, to discuss how iRecruit’s unique applicant tracking software facilitates seamless integration AND taps into additional talent pools that give tax service credits using WOTC. In the interview Brian explains to Sue what makes iRecruit different from other ATS systems and how iRecruit provides a unique experience.

 

Understanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit’s Target Groups: Qualified Veteran

New hires who fall under one or more of WOTC’s Target Groups may make you eligible for a WOTC Tax Credit. Target Group #2 is the Qualified Veteran. 102,390 individuals were hired with certification from this group in 2024, 6.5% of the total, making it the third overall certified WOTC category.

A “qualified veteran” is a veteran who is any of the following:

• • A member of a family receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps) for at least 3 months during the first 15 months of employment.
  • Unemployed for a period totaling at least 4 weeks (whether or not consecutive) but less than 6 months in the 1-year period ending on the hiring date.
  • Unemployed for a period totaling at least 6 months (whether or not consecutive) in the 1-year period ending on the hiring date.
  • A disabled veteran entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability hired not more than one year after being discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • A disabled veteran entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability who is unemployed for a period totaling at least six months (whether or not consecutive) in the one-year period ending on the hiring date.

The maximum tax credit available for hiring a Qualified Veteran is $9,600. The actual amount will vary depending on the qualifying target group.

 

#ICYMI