In a seismic move to address the murky terrain of questionable Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has introduced a transformative Voluntary Disclosure Program. This groundbreaking initiative invites qualifying businesses to partake in a financial redemption, committing to repay 80% of their contested ERC claims. Representing a calculated effort to purge financial ambiguity, the program extends a lifeline to enterprises entangled in dubious financial dealings.
Active until March 22, 2024, the program aims to allow businesses to rectify their financial discrepancies without incurring the customary underpayment interest or civil penalties associated with employment tax issues tied to ERC. Notably, participating companies can retain 20% of their claimed ERC amount. This nuanced provision is a strategic countermeasure against unscrupulous ERC promoters who previously levied exorbitant upfront fees, creating a balanced approach to financial rectification.
During a press call, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel underscored the urgency of this initiative, stating, “We could not stand idly by as small businesses were being taken advantage of by promoters trying to get hefty fees.” The 80% repayment requirement substantially incentivizes businesses to engage in the disclosure program, providing a measured pathway to financial recovery.
To qualify for this unprecedented opportunity, businesses must furnish comprehensive details about advisers or tax preparers involved in their ERC claims. This includes providing names, addresses, phone numbers, and a detailed account of the services rendered. However, not all businesses are eligible, as the program excludes those currently under criminal investigation, under IRS employment tax examination for the relevant period, or those facing IRS demands for ERC repayment.
Described by Werfel as a “limited-time offer,” the initiative holds particular significance within the tax community, prompting a call to swift action. Businesses keen on participation must submit Form 15434, the Application for Employee Retention Credit Voluntary Disclosure Program, streamlining the process.
This groundbreaking development unfolds against the IRS’s recent disallowance of ERC claims for over 20,000 taxpayers. This move, signaling the IRS’s proactive stance, targeted entities with questionable legitimacy or those lacking paid employees during the claimed period. As businesses navigate these uncharted waters, the ERC Voluntary Disclosure Program emerges as a pivotal opportunity for financial redemption, provided they promptly secure their participation before the program concludes, shaping a transformative narrative in tax compliance.
Source ( Journal of Accountancy News).
