It is a government tax credit available to employers who experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. The ERC is a refundable tax credit equal to 50% of the qualified wages paid by an eligible employer. To be eligible, an employer must have experienced a decrease in revenue or disruption in business due to COVID 19 (which almost every experienced). The credit is available for wages paid from March 13, 2020 through December 31, 2020. For the 2021 program, the credit is increased to 70%, and the limit is $10,000 per quarter. This means the annual maximum for an employee is $26,000.

The ERC is available to any employer—including non-profits, regardless of size—that has experienced either a full or partial shutdown of operations due to a governmental order related to COVID-19, or has experienced a decline in gross receipts.

The Paycheck Prevention Program was a forgivable loan from the government that you had to apply for and were granted based on your credit history and borrower status. The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) returns the payroll taxes that you have already paid and thus it is yours to claim, regardless of your borrower or credit worthiness. Once you receive the funds you do not have to pay them back or take any more action.