ERC For Nonprofits, Churches And Tax Exempt Organizations

Brandon Fisher
4 min readJul 5, 2023

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Are you part of a nonprofit, church, or tax exempt organization? If so, you may be eligible to receive a tax credit through the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”).

The ERC provides an incentive to employers to retain their employees through the pandemic. Learn more about the ERC and how it can help your organization stay afloat.

We’ll cover how it works, how to apply, and the benefits of securing the credit. If you’re looking for a way to reduce the financial burden of the pandemic, then the ERC could be a great option for your organization.

With the right information, you can take advantage of this tax credit and ensure your organization’s success during this difficult period.

What is ERC?

The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit designed to incentivize nonprofits, churches, and other tax-exempt organizations to keep their employees on payroll during the challenging economic times of the pandemic.

Employers may be eligible for a refundable tax credit equal to 50% of qualified wages, with a limit of $5,000 per employee. To be eligible, employers must have experienced a significant decline in gross receipts or have suspended operations due to COVID-19. In addition, employers must also have made an effort to retain their employees on payroll.

The credit is also applicable to qualified wages paid to furloughed employees who were not providing services, as long as they’re not receiving qualified sick and family leave wages for the same period of time. It’s important to note that the credit isn’t available for wages paid after December 31, 2020.

The IRS has provided helpful resources to assist employers with calculating the credit. Employers can also have their accountant help them with understanding the requirements for claiming the credit. This is especially helpful for churches and charities, given the complexities of the rules.

The Employee Retention Credit is a great way for employers to keep their employees on payroll and help the U.S. economy recover from the pandemic. Employers should take advantage of this opportunity to reduce their tax liability and help their employees in these challenging times.

How it Works for Churches and Non Profits

Save time and money on taxes with the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) available for churches and nonprofits. The ERC is a refundable tax credit for employers who continue to pay their employees during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The credit is designed to help employers who have been affected by the crisis to keep their employees on payroll.

It’s important to remember that the ERC is only available to churches and nonprofits that are tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The first step in claiming the ERC is to determine if you’re eligible. Generally, the ERC is available for employers who have experienced full or partial suspension of operations due to government orders related to the pandemic. If you qualify, the next step is calculating the credit. This involves figuring out the amount of wages you paid, the number of employees, and the total amount of health care expenses.

Finally, you’ll need to file your claim for the ERC. This involves filling out Form 941 for each quarter and then submitting it with your tax return. Keep in mind that the ERC is only available for the 2020 tax year, so you’ll need to act quickly to take advantage of it. Working with an ERC expert like https://ercrefundsolutions.com/ can help make the process smoother and ensure that your filing is done correctly the first time.

Apply for The ERC

Claiming the Employee Retention Credit can help you keep your employees on payroll and save you money — you just need to make sure you’re eligible and apply quickly.

Churches and non-profits that are tax exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to receive the credit. Here’s what you need to do to apply:

  • Check your eligibility: To qualify for the credit, you must have been in operation on February 15, 2020 and must have experienced either a full or partial suspension of operations due to a governmental order or experienced a significant decline in gross receipts.
  • Calculate the credit: The credit is equal to 50% of qualified wages up to $10,000 per employee for the year.
  • File for the credit: You can take the credit against your Social Security Tax and file Form 941 with the IRS.
  • Claim the credit: You can claim the credit on your quarterly payroll tax filings and receive the credit as a refund or apply for an advance payment from the IRS.
  • Keep records: Make sure to keep all necessary records and documentation to support your eligibility and calculations.

Getting the ERC is a straightforward process, but you need to act quickly and make sure you have all the information you need to qualify and apply. Taking the time to understand the process and file correctly can save your organization money. So don’t wait to apply — get the help you need and start the process today.

Conclusion

You’ve now learned about ERC and how it can help churches, nonprofits, and tax-exempt organizations. All you need to do now is apply for the ERC program. It’s a simple process that can provide real savings and help your organization reach its financial goals. So don’t wait, start your application today and start seeing the benefits of the ERC program!

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