Credit for hiring unemployed veterans (expired July 1, 2023)

Businesses hiring unemployed veterans for full-time employment positions located in Washington, are eligible for a credit against their business and occupation (B&O) tax or public utility tax (PUT). (RCW 82.04.4498 and 82.16.0499)

Businesses can earn credits through June 30, 2022. All credits earned must be claimed by June 30, 2023.

How much is the credit?

The credit equals 20% of the wages and benefits you paid to, or on behalf of, a qualified employee up to a maximum of $1,500 for each qualified employee hired on or after October 1, 2016.

There is no limit on the total credit an employer may receive. However, the total statewide credits may not exceed $500,000 per fiscal year.

The amount of credit you claim during a reporting period cannot be more than the amount of your B&O tax and PUT owed during that period. The same credit may not be claimed for both B&O tax and PUT.

How do I earn a credit?

You earn a credit by employing a qualified employee for a position located in Washington for at least two consecutive full calendar quarters on or after October 1, 2016 and before June 30, 2022.

How do I calculate the credit?

You calculate the credit on 20% of the wages and benefits you paid to the qualified employee, or on behalf of the qualified employee, from the time the employee was hired through at least the first two consecutive full calendar quarters of employment. You may earn additional credit for wages and benefits paid during future reporting periods until you reach the individual cap. The individual cap is $1,500 per qualified employee or $500,000 for the statewide fiscal year cap.

Example:

Qualified employee is hired on Oct. 1, 2020. The credit equals 20% of the wages and benefits paid by you to the qualified employee or on behalf of the qualified employee through March 31, 2021 (the end of the first two consecutive full calendar quarters of employment). Credit may be claimed on the March 2021 or Quarter 1, 2021 return. Wages and benefits paid during the next reporting period may be claimed on future returns until the credit of $1,500 per qualified employee or the $500,000 statewide fiscal cap is met.

How do I claim a credit?

• Credits are available on a first-in-time basis.
• There is no application process to receive the credit.
• Credits are claimed electronically through your tax filing account.
• Credits may be carried over until used, but must be claimed on returns filed no later than June 30, 2023.
• Credits will not be refunded.

You may claim the credit if a qualified employee has been employed by you for at least two consecutive full calendar quarters.

Example:

You hire a qualified employee on Sept. 25, 2020 (End of Quarter 3, 2020). The employee must be employed by you for two consecutive full calendar quarters before you can claim a credit. Quarter 4, 2020 through Quarter 1, 2021 are consecutive full calendar quarters. Therefore, the employee must be employed by you through the end of Quarter 1, which is March 31, 2021, to earn a credit.

• Monthly filers may claim the credit on their March 2021 return.
• Quarterly filers may claim the credit on their Quarter 1, 2021 return. ​
• Annual filers may claim the credit on their Annual 2021 return.

If you hired a qualified employee on Oct. 15, 2020 (Quarter 4, 2020), you would not be able to claim a credit until the June 2021 (Quarter 2, 2021) return. That is because Quarter 4, 2020 does not count as a full calendar quarter since the employee was hired mid-Oct. Quarter 1 and Quarter 2, 2021 are the first two full calendar quarters.

What if I claim a credit and the statewide limit has been reached?

We will provide you written notice if all or part of your credit claimed is disallowed. The notice will include the amount of tax to be paid within 30 days. If for some reason you do not pay the tax, penalties and interest will be assessed.

You may carry over the disallowed portion of your credit to the next fiscal year. However, you can only claim it if the cap for the next fiscal year is not exceeded. We will give credits carried over from a previous fiscal year priority when allowing businesses to claim credits.

What are the recordkeeping requirements?

You must keep records necessary for the department to determine if you are eligible for the credit, including records that show both:

• The employee’s status as a veteran.
• The employee was unemployed for at least 30 days when hired.

​What happens if I have to dismiss the employee?

If you dismiss a qualified employee for whom you have claimed a credit, you may not claim a new credit for any employee one year from the date the qualified employee was dismissed.

This waiting period does not apply if the qualified employee was let go for misconduct connected with his or her work, or let go due to a felony or gross misdemeanor conviction, and you thoroughly document the reason for the dismissal at the time (RCW 50.04.294).

Annual Tax Performance Report

You must electronically file an Annual Tax Performance Report Worksheet every year by May 31 following the calendar year in which you claimed the credit. The report is filed through your tax filing account in MyDOR (RCW 82.32.585).

Definitions

Full time means a normal work week of at least thirty-five hours.

Qualified employee means an unemployed veteran who is employed in a permanent full-time position for at least two consecutive full calendar quarters. For seasonal employers, “qualified employee” also includes the equivalent of a full-time employee in work hours for two consecutive full calendar quarters.

Unemployed means that the veteran was unemployed as defined in RCW 50.04.310 for at least thirty days immediately preceding the date the veteran was hired by the person claiming credit under this section.

Veteran means every person who has received an honorable discharge or received a general discharge under honorable conditions or is currently serving honorably, and who has served as a member in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard and armed forces reserves.