Employers urged to continue to process WOTC forms for when the WOTC program is reinstated

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit expired on December 31, 2013. Currently the fate of the WOTC program is in the hands of Congress, until the legislation is approved and required by congress their remains a lapse. Despite the lapse, the USDOL Employment and Training Administration has issued a guidance (TEGL 8-13) to all State Workforce Agencies to accept, date stamp, log, and retain certification requests for employers’ new hires made on or after Jan. 1, 2014, until informed otherwise by USDOL ETA. Under the same guidance, states may not issue eligibility certifications unless the program is reauthorized by Congress. They may however issue Conditional Certifications with ETA Form 9062.

 History shows that this lapse at the expiration of the program is not uncommon. If reinstated, all forms submitted on time will be considered valid and credit will be given.