This week’s question comes from Dan, a small-business owner. I have several employees that I hired who have signed Form W-11. What information do I need to provide to Vision Payroll to qualify for the HIRE Act Credit? Answer: Under the HIRE Act, employers may avoid paying social security tax on qualified employees and receive an income tax credit for retaining those employees. Employers are required to obtain a signed affidavit from qualified employees. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Form W-11, Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act Employee Affidavit that employers must have signed by eligible employees to claim the credit. Once an employer has obtained a signed form from an employee, contact Vision Payroll to inform us that the employee is eligible for the credit. Vision Payroll will work with employers to determine the eligible wages already paid in 2010 and ensure that future wages are not taxed. Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the HIRE Act Credit.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Form W-11, Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act Employee Affidavit. Employers can use Form W-11 to confirm that an employee is a qualified employee under the HIRE Act. Alternatively, they can use another similar statement if it contains the same information and the employee signs it under penalties of perjury.
Only employees who meet all the requirements of a qualified employee may complete this affidavit or similar statement. You cannot claim the HIRE Act benefits, including the payroll tax exemption or the new hire retention credit, unless the employee completes and signs this affidavit or similar statement under penalties of perjury and is otherwise a qualified employee.
A “qualified employee” is an employee who:
- Begins employment with you after February 3, 2010, and before January 1, 2011;
- Certifies by signed affidavit, or similar statement under penalties of perjury, that he or she has not been employed for more than 40 hours during the 60-day period ending on the date the employee begins employment with you;
- Is not employed by you to replace another employee unless the other employee separated from employment voluntarily or for cause (including downsizing); and
- Is not related to you. An employee is related to you if he or she is your child or a descendent of your child, your sibling or stepsibling, your parent or an ancestor of your parent, your stepparent, your niece or nephew, your aunt or uncle, or your in-law. An employee also is related to you if he or she is related to anyone who owns more than 50% of your outstanding stock or capital and profits interest or is your dependent or a dependent of anyone who owns more than 50% of your outstanding stock or capital and profits interest.
Contact Vision Payroll if you have further questions on the HIRE Act. If you prefer, you can attend one of our upcoming seminars that will cover what you need to know about the HIRE Act.
This week’s question comes from Andrew, a company president. We know that we can receive a payroll tax exemption and income tax credit under the HIRE Act if we hire certain unemployed workers. We need qualified employees to sign an affidavit to prove they are eligible. When will the HIRE Act affidavit form be available? Answer: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a draft Form W-11, Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act Employee Affidavit. Under the HIRE Act, employers may avoid paying social security tax on qualified employees and receive an income tax credit for retaining those employees. Employers are required to obtain a signed affidavit from qualified employees. A final Form W-11 is expected to be released by the IRS during the week of April 4, 2010. Contact Vision Payroll with further questions on the HIRE Act.
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