Contributor, Benzinga
September 11, 2023
ERC Benefits
Overall Rating:
securely through ERC Benefits's website

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted businesses, causing disruptions, closures and financial strain. Lockdowns reduced consumer spending, and supply chain issues led to revenue declines and layoffs. Although the dark days of the pandemic are far behind, its lingering effects continue to haunt many small businesses. Government programs like the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) have been effective in helping many small businesses recoup some of the financial losses incurred during the pandemic, ultimately aiding in their recovery and fostering economic stability. 

However, filing the ERC is complex and time-consuming, and many business owners who try to do it themselves often have their claims denied. Additionally, most small businesses lack an understanding of the core eligibility requirements. In fact, most companies remain unaware of their eligibility, especially those that received PPP and don’t know that they can also access the ERC. ERC Benefits stands out as a reputable and trusted partner for businesses seeking to file their ERC and gain access to government-issued tax refunds to boost their operations. 

The company expedites the entire process, from eligibility checks to filing, leveraging its expert in-house team of fully licensed CPAs to ensure small businesses receive every penny they’re entitled to in a short timeframe. Unlike most ERC services that impose high upfront fees or claim a significant portion of the refund as compensation for their assistance, ERC Benefits charges no fees upfront and requires no credit check. The company only gets paid when the IRS mails a check to the client, meaning the clients owe ERC Benefits nothing if their claim is denied. 

Read on for a comprehensive review of ERC Benefits, the pros, cons, core service offerings and how it differs from other services.  

Best For
  • Medium to small businesses, franchises and nonprofits seeking to recoup some of the financial losses incurred during the pandemic and receive government tax refunds
  • Entrepreneurs looking to maximize their eligible ERC and enhance their business recovery
  • Companies with PPP loans, unaware that they can access the ERC or seeking assistance in claiming eligible tax refunds
  • Businesses in need of a financial boost to turbocharge their operations and sustain economic stability
  • Those struggling with an ERC application and seeking efficient and trustworthy ERC services to navigate the complex filing process
Pros
  • No upfront fees or credit checks
  • Increased peace of mind via accurate and timely filing
  • Expedited filing process leveraging its team of in-house professionals
  • Maximizes your ERC refunds via meticulous filing by expert ERC advisers, meaning more money for your business (up to $500,000 or more)
  • Friendly and supportive customer support
  • BBB accredited with an A- rating and 5-star Google ratings
  • Highly trusted and reputable ERC service
  • Excellent track record with the IRS
  • Guarantee audit support and expert qualification guidance
Cons
  • Most businesses might consider the rate high at 10% to 15%

ERC Benefits Ratings at a Glance

Customer Service
Security
Minimum Investment and Pricing
Concierge-Level Service
Expert Discovery and Qualification
Overall

ERC Benefits Product Offering

ERC Benefits is the foremost source for numerous medium and small businesses seeking expert guidance and expedited filing for their ERC. The ERC is one of the numerous benefits provided under the $2 trillion CARES Act package to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and fast-track economic recovery. It is a fully refundable tax credit equal to a specific percentage of qualified wages payable to the employee by an eligible employer. 

ERC eligible wages are reimbursed differently for quarters in 2020 versus 2021. For 2020, the tax credit is 50% of the eligible wages paid up to $10,000 per employee between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The $10,000 reflects the maximum wages considered for each employee across all calendar quarters. And so, the maximum tax credit for 2020 is capped at $5,000 (50% of $10,000) per employee. For 2021, there are 3 eligible quarters (Q1,2,&3) and the maximum tax credit is increased to $7,000 (70% of $10,000) per W2 employee per calendar quarter. Any business that demonstrates at least a 20% decline in its gross receipts in an eligible quarter qualifies for ERC for that quarter. Companies can access up to a maximum benefit of $21,000 ($7,000 X 3 quarters) per W2 employee via the 2021 program. 

Declining revenue is not a prerequisite or qualifying requirement to accessing the ERC. So, even if your revenue went up, you could still apply and receive the tax credits, provided you can show that the pandemic-related restrictions or disruption impacted your business. 

Also, you can still qualify for ERC funds if your business received PPP loans or other tax credits. 

ERC Benefits streamlines filing claims for businesses across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, fitness centers, franchise and franchise owners. Its expert tax advisers can carefully and methodically separate the PPP-forgiven loans from ERC-eligible wages.

Unlike some ERC services, ERC Benefits is vertically integrated, meaning it doesn't outsource any part of its operations to a third party; instead, the company leverages its professional in-house team of fully licensed CPAs and expert ERC advisers to handle claims quickly and accurately. These experts have extensive experience in tax credits and a deep understanding of IRS requirements, including the core operational guidelines and nuances of ERC qualifications. 

ERC Benefits offers a straightforward pre-qualification and filing process, making it very easy to claim your refund. To get started, you can either fill out a qualifying assessment form to see whether your business qualifies for the ERC or schedule a call with one of the company’s ERC advisers at your convenience. If you choose the former, you must have the following business information ready.

  • Gross receipts for each quarter of 2019, 2020 and 2021. For clarity, the gross receipts are the total gross revenue of your business before any deductions or expenses (total gross revenue/sales).
  • Information regarding how the COVID-19 shutdowns impacted your business. An example would be if your business experienced a partial shutdown or capacity restriction.
  • Information on your PPP Loans, both 1 & 2 if applicable. You must provide accurate information without guessing or embellishment, as ERC Benefits uses your answers to determine which quarters your business is eligible for.
  • Your business tax and payroll documents.

With this information, you can proceed to complete the step-by-step application form and upload your tax and payroll documents via the secure portal. Once done and submitted, the company’s team will review your documentation and set up a call with you to discuss the details of your submission, its filing procedures and timing for completion.  You’ll then be informed within five business days of the exact amount of refund you’ll get from the IRS.

Once your ERC claim is filed with the IRS it takes on average 4-6 months to receive your refund in the form of a check from the IRS. 

There are no restrictions on how you can use the funds. Whether for vacations, debt repayment, investing in new business equipment or hiring new employees, you can use the money as you see fit. 

NB: Only small businesses with W2 employees are eligible for ERC; companies with only 1099s or those who are self-employed are not eligible. Businesses with 1099/contract employees can still file for ERC for their W2 employees, but wages paid that are not W2 taxed wages do not qualify.

The size of your 2019 workforce is also used as a baseline for eligibility. The program eligibility for 2020 ERC claims is small businesses with 100 or fewer full-time W2 employees in 2019, and for 2021 ERC claims, that number was raised to 500 W2 full-time employees in 2019. 

ERC Benefits Customer Service

ERC Benefits offers customer support across multiple channels, including live chat, phone and email. The phone and live chat facilitate real-time responses and immediate assistance from the support team in under a minute. The support teams are highly efficient, handle inquiries professionally and are readily available to assist you from Monday to Friday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). You can also text the team directly by clicking the "Text Us" widget if you don't want to use the live chat or phone channels. You can contact the team via email for less urgent inquiries or complaints that need detailed explanations. 

You can access information about ERC Benefits, the eligibility criteria and more on the FAQ page without contacting the customer support team. More comprehensive content on the ERC program in general and other pandemic-related tax credits is available on the blog page for educational purposes. Another way to connect with the support team is via social media (including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn). 

You can also visit their website to start your application; ERC has a well-secured portal for document uploads. Plus, you're provided with a dedicated project manager to communicate with directly during the filing process. ERC Benefits is BBB accredited with an A- rating and an impressive 5-star rating on Google. The overwhelmingly positive comments reflect the efficiency and professionalism of its customer support. Benzinga witnessed and can attest to this professionalism. 

ERC Benefits Security

ERC Benefits prioritizes user privacy protection and employs appropriate technical and commercially acceptable security measures to safeguard data in line with prevailing privacy policy. Although the company may collect your personally identifiable information, including name, address, contact and email, this information is strictly used for personalized service delivery and marketing. ERC Benefits does not sell or share users' data with a third party unless consent is given or to fulfill legal obligations following prevailing legal requirements when necessary. ERC Benefits is neither a bank nor a brokerage, so it doesn't store or have access to users' funds. There is no security risk in using the services the company offers.

ERC Benefits Minimum Investment and Pricing

Unlike most ERC services, ERC Benefits doesn't charge an upfront fee and requires no credit check before filing your application. There's no barrier to entry or deposit requirements. The company will do all of the filing analysis and preparation at zero initial cost and will only charge you a percentage of your received checks as applicable fees. This pricing approach ensures a risk-free process for filing your ERC. You don't need to commit any money, and if the IRS denies your claim, you owe ERC Benefits nothing. The applicable service fee is based on a percentage of your final credit amount, with a maximum of 15%. That percentage can go down depending on the size of your final credit amount — the more significant your final credit, the smaller the percentage. Overall, ERC Benefits offers a competitive rate compared to other service providers that charge 20% and beyond. 

ERC Benefits Concierge-Level Service

ERC Benefits offers a concierge-level of service, led by a team of seasoned tax credit experts dedicated to guiding you through the qualification process. With a sterling track record for delivering outstanding service, precision, and efficiency, ERC Benefits stands as a trusted partner.

  • We assign each business owner a dedicated ERC Advisor, ensuring a single point of contact throughout the entire journey.
  • Our commitment to you extends beyond qualification, providing continuous, full-time client support to address any questions or concerns.
  • We take pride in our A Accredited BBB financial service provider status and our exceptional 5-star Google Rating.

ERC Benefits Expert Discovery and Qualification

ERC Benefits goes through a detailed discovery process with each client to understand their unique business circumstances. Their ERC Advisor will conduct a complete analysis to determine the best path to qualification, while diligently following IRS guidelines.

ERC Benefits also provides a straightforward pre-qualification process and efficient filing procedures for small business owners. Eligible employers can access up to $26,000 per W-2 employee with no restrictions on how the money is used.

For clarity, eligible employers are those who conducted business in 2020 and 2021, including tax-exempt organizations, and who meet either or both of the following criteria:

  • Experienced a 50% decline in gross receipts in any eligible quarter of 2020 when compared to the same quarter in 2019, or a 20% decline in gross receipts in any eligible quarter of 2021 when compared to the same quarter in 2019.
  • Had a complete or partial shutdown of business operations, including restrictions in your operational capacity or disruptions in the supply chain, due to a government-mandated directive, directly or indirectly.

ERC Benefits vs. Competitors

ERC Benefits has a few competitors like ERC Specialists and Bottomline ERC, which also help businesses streamline the process of filing ERC claims and getting a refund. However, unlike these services, ERC Benefits offers a highly competitive service fee ranging from 15% to 10%, with no upfront costs.In comparison, ERC Specialists charges a fixed 15% rate, while Bottomline ERC's fees range from 30% to 15%. ERC Benefits offers an expedited filing process that significantly reduces waiting times. ERC Benefits stands out due to its attractive rate, efficient claim filing process and outstanding customer service, giving it a competitive edge in the industry. 

Overall

ERC Benefits emerges as a standout solution for businesses aiming to maximize their ERC refunds. With a team of seasoned experts well-versed in IRS requirements and operational guidelines, ERC Benefits offers a straightforward pre-qualification and filing process that ensures accurate and swift application processing, usually taking just one to two weeks on average. Its competitive fee structure, ranging from 15% to 10% of the credit amount, sets it apart from competitors. The company's commitment to efficient customer support and its expedited filing process make it an attractive choice for businesses seeking to recover financial losses incurred during the pandemic through government-backed initiatives. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Which businesses should seek ERC credits?

A

All businesses that experienced disruptions, capacity restrictions or supply chain issues due to government-imposed orders during the pandemic are eligible for ERC credits.

 

Q

Can you claim ERC credits now?

A

Yes, ERC claims can be filed until January 31, 2024 for eligible periods of 2020, and January 31, 2025 for eligible periods of 2021.

 

Q

Am I ineligible if I had a PPP Loan?

A

Yes, eligible businesses may still file for ERC, although the wages covered by PPP loans are not “double-dipped” for ERC claims..

 

Q

Do businesses get the ERC each year?

A

No, the ERC was introduced as a response to the economic challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the eligible quarters are Q2 2020 through Q3 of 2021. Recovery Startup Businesses are also eligible to claim funds for Q4 of 2021, but the credit is capped at $50,000 for RSB claims.

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