Frequently asked questions about the Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) – sometimes called the Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC – is a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations. The requirements are different depending on the time period for which you claim the credit.

These frequently asked questions (FAQs) provide general information about eligibility, claiming the credit, scams and more. For technical guidance, see notices, forms and instructions on the Employee Retention Credit page.

Our Employee Retention Credit Eligibility Checklist tool can help you see if you may be eligible for the ERC. You can also review a list of signs your ERC claim may be incorrect.

If you’re not eligible and you claimed the credit, check these resources for information about resolving an incorrect claim:

• See the Withdrawing a claim section below if:
  • You haven’t received a check, or
  • You received a check but haven’t cashed or deposited it.
  • You cashed or deposited your ERC check, or
  • You received the ERC as a credit that you applied to the tax period on that return or another period.

  Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about ERC.

  • Eligibility
  • Qualified wages
  • Qualifying government orders
  • Supply chain
  • Decline in gross receipts
  • Recovery startup business
  • Claiming the ERC
  • Correcting an ERC claim
    • Withdrawing a claim
    • Amending a return

    Eligibility

    Q1. Is every business eligible for the Employee Retention Credit? (added July 27, 2023)

    Q2. Who is eligible to claim the Employee Retention Credit? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

    A2. Some promoters tell taxpayers that every employer qualifies for ERC. This is not true. Eligibility for the ERC depends on your specific facts and circumstances.

    There are very specific eligibility requirements for claiming the ERC.

    Eligible employers can claim the ERC on an original or amended employment tax return for qualified wages paid between March 13, 2020, and December 31, 2021. However, to be eligible, employers must have either:

    • Sustained a full or partial suspension of operations due to an order from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel or group meetings because of COVID-19 during 2020 or the first three quarters of 2021, or
    • Experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021, or
    • Qualified as a recovery startup business for the third or fourth quarters of 2021.

    A self-employed individual who has employees and who otherwise meets the requirements to be an eligible employer may be eligible for the ERC based on qualified wages they paid to employees. Self-employed individuals can't include their own self-employment earnings or wages paid to related individuals when calculating the credit.

    Employers in U.S. territories are eligible to claim ERC if they meet other eligibility requirements. For information about qualified wages paid by employers in U.S. territories, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.A, Question 4.

    Q3. Who is not eligible to claim the ERC? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

    A3. You don't qualify for the ERC if you didn't operate a business or tax-exempt organization with employees.

    Some examples of taxpayers who are not eligible to claim the ERC and are often targeted by ERC scam promoters include:

    • Individual taxpayers who are not business owners
    • Employees
    • Retirees
    • Self-employed individuals who do not have any employees
    • Household employers
    • Employers that didn't pay wages to employees during the qualifying time periods
    • Employers who experienced supply chain disruptions but did not experience a full or partial suspension of operations by a qualifying order
    • Government agencies

    Some other limitations or exceptions apply in certain quarters for certain types of employers. See comparison chart.

    Q4. Does participating in the Paycheck Protection Program affect the amount of ERC I may be entitled to? (updated March 22, 2024)

    A4. Participating in the PPP affects the amount of qualified wages used to calculate your credit. Participation in the PPP doesn’t affect your eligibility.

    If your PPP loan was forgiven, you can't claim the ERC on wages that were reported as payroll costs to obtain Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness, however, you may still be eligible to claim ERC.

    Payroll costs up to the amount that SBA forgave are ineligible for ERC. You may use the rest of your qualified wages to calculate your ERC.

    Documents you need to support your ERC claim may include:

    • PPP loan forgiveness application
    • Documentation from the Small Business Administration related to your loan forgiveness decision
    • Calculations that show you did not claim the ERC on the same wages you reported as payroll costs
    • Records that show the wages used as payroll costs for PPP and wages used to claim the ERC

    For more information about the definition of payroll costs related to PPP, see Paycheck Protection Program.

    For some examples of how to figure out what to exclude from qualified wages as it relates to PPP, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.I, Question 49.

    Q5. Does receiving a restaurant revitalization grant or a shuttered venue operators grant affect the amount of ERC I may be entitled to? (added Sept. 14, 2023)

    A5. If you received a restaurant revitalization grant or a shuttered venue operators grant, then you can't claim ERC on the wages you included as payroll costs for either grant program in the third or fourth quarter of 2021.

    Q6. How does being an essential business affect my eligibility for ERC? (added Sept. 14, 2023)

    A6. Being an essential business doesn't necessarily mean you're ineligible for ERC. You may be eligible based on the gross receipts test, or if you can show that you experienced a partial suspension of operations due to an order from an appropriate governmental authority.

    For an example of an essential business that was still eligible due to a partial suspension of operations, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.D, Question 17, Example 4.

    Whether your business is considered essential or non-essential varies by jurisdiction. You should refer to the governmental order affecting the operation of your trade or business to determine if you are essential or non-essential.

    Qualified wages

    Q1. What is the definition of qualified wages for the ERC? (updated Sept. 4, 2024)

    A1. Generally, qualified wages must be wages that are subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes reportable on a Form W-2 (and not amounts reported on another form, like the Form 1099-NEC). However, they may also include certain health care expenses you pay for your employees. Because qualified wages must be wages subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, qualified wages do not include any amounts paid to independent contractors and reported on Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation.

    Not all wages that you pay to employees may be qualified wages for purposes of the ERC. Be wary of anyone who says you can use all wages when calculating your ERC.

    Different dollar limits apply and the rules vary by the quarter for which you're claiming the ERC.

    The amount of your qualified wages used to calculate your ERC will also depend on certain factors, including:

    • The average number of employees you employed in 2019;
    • Whether the employees provided services for the wages you paid during the suspension of operations or the quarter in which you experienced the required decline in gross receipts;
    • How the related individual rules apply to your situation;
    • Whether the wages were used to claim other tax credits; and
    • Whether the wages were used as payroll costs for other programs (Paycheck Protection Program, shuttered venue operators grant or restaurant revitalization grant).

    These rules changed throughout 2020 and 2021. See comparison chart.

    For further discussion, see Notice 2021-20 (Section III.G, Questions 30 through 39), Notice 2021-23 (Section III.E), and Notice 2021-49 (Section III.E. and Section IV.A. through IV.D).

    Q2. What is the definition of “related individuals?” (added Sept. 4, 2024)

    A2. Wages paid to related individuals aren’t qualified wages for the ERC. Generally, related individuals are those who have one of the following relationships with the majority owner:

    • Child or a descendant of a child.
    • Brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister.
    • Father, mother or an ancestor of either.
    • Stepfather or stepmother.
    • Niece or nephew.
    • Aunt or uncle.
    • Son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
    • Household member, meaning an individual who, for the taxable year of the taxpayer, has the same principal place of abode as the taxpayer and is a member of the taxpayer’s household.

    Note that majority owners and their spouses may be considered related individuals as well. Constructive ownership rules apply to identify who is considered a majority owner. See Section IV.D. of Notice 2021-49, 2021-34 I.R.B. 316 for more information.

    Q3. What special rules apply to large eligible employers? (added Sept. 4, 2024)

    A3. Large eligible employers are those that averaged:

    • more than 100 full-time employees in 2019 and claimed ERC for 2020 tax periods, and/or
    • more than 500 full-time employees in 2019 and claimed ERC for 2021 tax periods.

    Special rules apply to these employers. Large eligible employers can only claim wages paid to employees who were not providing services due to a suspension of operations or a decline in gross receipts. For more details see the ERC comparison chart.

    Qualifying government orders

    Q1. What kind of government orders qualify my business or organization for the ERC? (added July 28, 2023)

    A1. To qualify for ERC, you need to have been subject to a qualifying government order related to COVID-19 that caused a full or partial suspension of your trade or business operations. The government order may be at the local, state or federal level.

    Examples of governmental orders:

    • An order from the city's mayor stating that all non-essential businesses must close for a specified time period;
    • A state's emergency proclamation that residents must shelter in place for a specified period, except for essential workers;
    • An order from a local official imposing a curfew on residents that impacted the operating hours of your trade or business for a specified time period;
    • An order from a local health department mandating a workplace closure for cleaning and disinfecting.

    Q2. Can I rely on a recommendation, bulletin or statement issued by a government authority to qualify for ERC? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

    A2. No. Recommendations or statements encouraging you to take certain actions are not orders.

    To qualify for the ERC, you must have been subject to a government order that fully or partially suspended your trade or business.

    If you use a third party to calculate or claim your ERC, you should ask them to give you a copy of the government orders – not a generic narrative about an order. Read the order carefully and make sure it applied to your business or organization.

    Q3. Is being subject to a government order enough to make me eligible for ERC? (added July 28, 2023)

    A3. No. You need to demonstrate that the government order was related to COVID-19 and that it resulted in your trade or business being fully or partially suspended.

    Q4. What does it mean to be fully or partially suspended? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

    A4. Whether your business or organization was fully or partially suspended depends on your specific situation. For examples, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.D.

    Some examples of who doesn't qualify under this eligibility factor:

    • If all your employees were able to telework during the pandemic and your business continued to operate, your business wasn't suspended.
    • If your customers were affected by a stay-at-home order, but no orders applied to your business operations, you weren't suspended.
    • If you voluntarily closed your business or reduced hours of operation, you weren't ordered to suspend.

    You could still qualify for ERC based on a decline in gross receipts even if you don't qualify under suspension of operations due to government order.

    Remember: You need to be able to prove your claim with a specific government order and show how it suspended all or part of your operations.

    Q5. What does “more than nominal” mean when considering whether my business or organization was partially suspended? (added Sept. 14, 2023)

    A5. IRS will consider you to be partially suspended if more than a nominal part of your business was suspended by a governmental order.

    The IRS considers "more than nominal" to be at least 10% of your business based on either the gross receipts from that part of the business or the total hours your employees spent working in that part of the business.

    If all parts of your business could operate but you had to modify how it operated, then we will consider you to be partially suspended if you can show that the order had more than a nominal effect on your business. We consider "more than a nominal effect" to be at least a 10% reduction in your ability to provide goods or services in the normal course of your business.

    If you changed business practices to alter behavior, such as making store aisles one-way or requiring customers or employees to wear masks, we won't consider that change to have had a more than a nominal effect on your business operations.

    For more details and examples, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.D, Questions 11, 17 and 18.

    Q6. If my business was suspended by a government order for only part of a quarter, am I an eligible employer for the entire quarter? (added Sept. 14, 2023)

    A6: You are considered an eligible employer for the entire calendar quarter if your business operations were fully or partially suspended due to a governmental order during a portion of a calendar quarter.

    However, you can claim the ERC only for wages paid during the suspension period, not the whole quarter.

    For examples, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.D, Question 22.

    Q7. Are communications from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considered a government order for purposes of qualifying for the ERC due to a full or partial suspension of operations? (added Nov. 7, 2023)

    A7. Generally, no. An employer won’t be considered eligible for the ERC just because they followed general guidance or recommendations contained in OSHA communications.

    For details on what the IRS considers OSHA communications, see the IRS legal memo AM-2023-007 PDF .

    However, if an appropriate government authority – such as a state governor – issued an order that made OSHA recommendations mandatory, the employer may then be able to claim the ERC.

    The IRS will consider an employer to be eligible for ERC if they:

    • Provide an order from an appropriate government authority mandating compliance with OSHA recommendations, and
    • Demonstrate that implementing the mandatory recommendations either:
      • Suspended more than a nominal part of the employer’s trade or business operations, or
      • Required modifications that had more than a nominal effect on the employer’s trade or business operations.

      Modifications that required minor adjustments – such as masking or making store aisles one way to enforce social distancing – most likely did not result in more than a nominal effect on business operations because those adjustments didn’t restrict the employer’s ability to provide goods and services in their normal course of business.

      Supply chain

      Q1. Was my business or organization fully or partially suspended if I had a supply chain issue? (updated March 22, 2024)

      A1. A supply chain issue by itself does not qualify you for the ERC.

      The IRS provided a narrow, limited exception if an employer was not fully or partially suspended but their supplier was. The exception, however, only applied when the employer absolutely could not operate without the supplier's product and the supplier was fully or partially suspended themselves.

      In addition to having the supplier's governmental order, you will need to show that:

      • The government order caused the supplier to suspend operations,
      • You couldn't obtain the supplier's goods or materials elsewhere (regardless of cost), and
      • It caused a full or partial suspension of your own business operations.

      You should be wary of anyone who says you qualify for ERC based on supply chain issues without asking for specific information about how your business or organization was affected, your supplier's situation and documentation. For more information and examples see legal memo AM-2023-005 PDF .

      Decline in gross receipts

      Q1. How do I tell if I have the required decline in gross receipts to claim the ERC? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

      A1. You may qualify for ERC if your business or organization experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021.

      Generally, this test is met by taking the gross receipts of the calendar quarter in which ERC is considered and comparing them to the gross receipts of the same calendar quarter in 2019.

      For 2020, you begin qualifying in the quarter when your gross receipts are less than 50% of the gross receipts for the same quarter in 2019. You no longer qualify in the quarter after the quarter in which your gross receipts are more than 80% of the same quarter in 2019.

      Be sure to keep thorough records and consider whether you need to coordinate with another part of your business, such as if you're part of an aggregated group. For more information about aggregation rules, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.B.

      Q2. What types of income do I need to include in gross receipts? (added Sept. 14, 2023)

      A2. Gross receipts for purposes of the ERC are defined by reference to existing law. Learn more about the specific rules in Notice 2021-20, Section III.E, Questions 24 and 25.

      For an employer other than a tax-exempt organization, gross receipts for ERC purposes generally means gross receipts of the taxable year. It generally includes:

      • Total sales (net of returns and allowances)
      • All amounts received for services
      • Any income from investments
      • Any income from incidental or outside sources

      For example, gross receipts for an employer that is not a tax-exempt organization may include:

      • Interest (including original issue discount and certain tax-exempt interest)
      • Dividends, rents, royalties and annuities, regardless of whether those amounts are derived in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's trade or business

      For an employer that is a tax-exempt organization, gross receipts means the gross amount received by the organization from all sources without reduction for any costs or expenses, including:

      • Cost of goods or assets sold
      • Cost of operations
      • Expenses of earning, raising or collecting such amounts.

      For example, gross receipts for an employer that is a tax-exempt organization may include gross sales or receipts from business activities (including business activities unrelated to the purpose for which the organization qualifies for exemption) and the gross amount received:

      • As contributions, gifts, grants and similar amounts without reduction for the expenses of raising and collecting such amounts,
      • As dues or assessments from members or affiliated organizations without reduction for expenses attributable to the receipt of such amounts,
      • From the sale of assets without reduction for cost or other basis and expenses of sale,
      • As investment income, such as interest, dividends, rents and royalties.

      Recovery startup business

      Q1. What is a recovery startup business? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

      A1. A recovery startup business is a business or organization that began carrying on a trade or business after February 15, 2020, and had average annual gross receipts of $1 million or less for the three years preceding the quarter for which they are claiming the ERC.

      Your business does not need to specifically relate to pandemic relief or recovery efforts to be eligible.

      To be eligible as a recovery startup business, you can't be eligible for ERC under the full or partial suspension test or the gross receipts test. A recovery startup business can claim ERC only for the third and fourth quarters of 2021 and may claim a maximum of $50,000 of ERC per quarter.

      You should consider whether you need to coordinate with another part of your business, such as if you're part of an aggregated group. For more information about aggregation rules, see Notice 2021-20, Section III.B. and Notice 2021-49, Section III.D.

      Claiming the ERC

      Q1. How do I claim the ERC? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

      A1. Eligible employers that didn't claim the credit when they filed their original employment tax return can claim the credit by filing an amended employment tax return. For example, businesses that file quarterly employment tax returns can file Form 941-X, Adjusted Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund PDF , to claim the credit for prior 2020 and 2021 quarters.

      Reminder: If you file Form 941-X to claim the Employee Retention Credit, you must reduce your deduction for wages by the amount of the credit for that same tax period. Therefore, you may need to amend your income tax return (for example, Forms 1040, 1065, 1120, etc.) to reflect that reduced deduction.

      Q2. Is there a deadline to claim the ERC? (added July 27, 2023)

      A2. Generally, for 2020 tax periods, the deadline is April 15, 2024. For 2021 tax periods, the deadline is April 15, 2025.

      Q3. Who can sign a claim for refund for the ERC? (added July 27, 2023)

      A3. The person who can sign an ERC claim depends on the type of employer you are.

      Type of employer	Who can sign a claim for refund for the ERC if you filed an original employment tax return
      Sole proprietorship	The individual who owns the business
      Corporation, including a limited liability company (LLC) treated as a corporation	The president, vice president, or other principal officer duly authorized to sign
      Partnership (including an LLC treated as a partnership) or unincorporated organization	A responsible and duly authorized member, partner, or officer having knowledge of its affairs
      Single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes	The owner of the LLC or a principal officer duly authorized to sign
      Trust or estate	The fiduciary

      The claim for refund may also be signed by a duly authorized agent of the taxpayer if a valid power of attorney has been filed.

      If you used a third-party payer, such as a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), a Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) or a 3504 agent to file your original return, you can't file a claim for refund on your own. You will need to work with them to claim the ERC.

      Q4. What happens if I incorrectly claim the credit? (updated March 22, 2024)

      A4. The IRS reminds anyone who incorrectly claimed the ERC and received a refund must pay it back, possibly with penalties and interest.

      You may be able to withdraw your ERC claim if the IRS hasn’t processed or paid your ERC. Withdrawing the claim means you’re asking the IRS to not process the adjusted return that included your ERC claim. See the next section, ​​​​​Withdrawing an ERC claim for details.

      If you claimed and received the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) before December 21, 2023, but you are ineligible and need to repay the ERC, the Employee Retention Credit Voluntary Disclosure Program (ERC-VDP) lets employers pay back the credits at a discounted rate. For more information and examples, see Employee Retention Credit – Voluntary Disclosure Program.

      Q5. Can I claim the ERC on an amended return if I have not filed my original employment tax return? (added July 27, 2023)

      A5. No. Claims for refund will not be processed if an original employment tax return has not been filed.

      Q6. Can I file an amended return to claim the ERC if I did not issue and file forms W-2? (updated July 28, 2023)

      A6. No. The IRS will not process ERC claims for refund if the claim for refund is filed after Forms W-2 were due and you did not file Forms W-2.

      Q7. Does the ERC affect my income tax return? (updated Sept. 14, 2023)

      The amount of your ERC reduces the amount that you are allowed to report as wage expense on your income tax return for the tax year in which the qualified wages were paid or incurred.

      Generally, most taxpayers claim wage expense as a deduction on their income tax returns. However, for some taxpayers, wage expense is properly capitalized to the basis of a particular asset or as an inventory cost.

      You should amend your income tax return to reduce the amount of your original wage expense if that adjustment has not yet been made by:

      • reducing the prior wage deduction, or
      • reducing the prior amount capitalized (and making any resulting adjustment, such as reducing a depreciation deduction).

      Correcting an ERC claim

      Withdrawing a claim

      Q1. Who can ask to withdraw an ERC claim? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

      A1. You can use the ERC claim withdrawal process if all of the following apply:

      • You made the claim on an adjusted employment tax return (Forms 941-X, 943-X, 944-X, CT-1X).
      • You filed your adjusted return only to claim the ERC, and you made no other adjustments.
      • You want to withdraw the entire amount of your ERC claim.
      • The IRS has not paid your claim, or the IRS has paid your claim but you haven’t cashed or deposited the refund check.

      Please note that if you willfully filed a fraudulent ERC claim, or if you assisted or conspired in such conduct, withdrawing a fraudulent claim will not exempt you from potential criminal investigation and prosecution.

      If you’re not able to withdraw your claim, you can still file another adjusted return if you need to:

      • Reduce the amount of your ERC claim
      • Make other adjustments to your amended return

      You can submit a request to withdraw the full amount of your ERC claim even if you’re under audit.

      Q2. Who can’t use the withdrawal process? (updated March 22, 2024)

      A2. You can’t use the withdrawal process if any of the following apply:

      • The credit you are trying to withdraw was filed on an original employment tax return (Form 941, 943, 944, CT-1),
      • You are trying to withdraw only a portion of your ERC,
      • Your adjusted return (Form 941-X, Form 943-X, Form 944-X, Form CT-1X) reports tax items not on your original return in addition to the ERC claim,
      • You need to make other corrections to your return,
      • You received your ERC refund and cashed or deposited the refund check, or
      • You received a notice or letter from the IRS disallowing the entire amount of your ERC.

      If you’re not able to withdraw your claim or apply to the ERC Voluntary Disclosure Program, you can still file another adjusted return if you need to:

      • Reduce the amount of your ERC claim
      • Make other adjustments to your amended return

      Q3. If I am under audit, can I withdraw my ERC claim? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

      A3. If you’ve been notified that the IRS is auditing the adjusted return that includes your ERC claim, prepare your withdrawal request as explained below. See the sample form for help.

      1. Make a copy of the adjusted return with the claim you wish to withdraw.
      2. In the left margin of the first page, write “Withdrawn.”
      3. In the right margin of the first page:
         • Have an authorized personsign and date it.
         • Write their name and title next to their signature.
      • If you’ve been assigned an examiner, communicate with your examiner about how to submit your withdrawal request directly to them.
      • If you haven’t been assigned an examiner, respond to your audit notice with your withdrawal request, using the instructions in the notice for responding.

      Q4. If I already received a bill or notice of demand in connection with my ERC claim, can I withdraw my ERC claim? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

      A4. No. You should pay the amount due or contact the IRS using the contact information on the notice for payment options or collection alternatives.

      Q5. How do I withdraw my ERC claim? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

      A5. If you’ve been notified that your claim is under audit, see If I am under audit, can I withdraw my ERC claim? for instructions.

      If you use a professional payroll company and they filed your ERC claim for you, you should consult with them if you want to withdraw your ERC claim. Depending on how the company filed your claim – individually or batched with others – you may need to have them submit your withdrawal request.

      Otherwise, you’ll need to follow different steps depending on your situation.

      You haven’t received a refund

      If you filed an adjusted return (Form 941-X, 943-X, 944-X, CT-1X) to claim the ERC and you would like to withdraw your entire claim, use the process below. If you filed adjusted returns for more than one tax period, you must follow the steps below for each tax period that you are requesting a withdrawal.

      To request a withdrawal, see the sample form and follow these steps:

      1. Make a copy of the adjusted return with the claim you wish to withdraw.
      2. On the left margin of the first page, write “Withdrawn.”
      3. On the right margin of the first page:
         1. Have an authorized personsign and date it.
         2. Write their name and title next to their signature.

         Note: If you can’t fax your withdrawal request, you should also make a copy of the signed and dated first page to keep for your records. Then mail it to the address in the instructions for the adjusted return that applies to your business or organization. This will take longer for the IRS to receive your request. Track your package to confirm delivery.

         You received a refund check but haven’t cashed or deposited it

         If you received a refund check but haven’t cashed or deposited it, you can still withdraw your claim. You need to mail the voided check with your withdrawal request using these steps:

         1. Prepare the claim withdrawal request using the steps above, but don’t fax the request.
         2. Write "Void" in the endorsement section on the back of the refund check.
         3. Include a note that says "ERC Withdrawal" and briefly explain the reason for returning the refund check.
         4. Make copies for your tax records of the front and back of the voided check, the explanation note and the signed and dated withdrawal request page.
         5. Don't staple, bend or paper clip the voided check; include it with your claim withdrawal request and mail it to the IRS at: Cincinnati Refund Inquiry Unit
            PO Box 145500
            Mail Stop 536G
            Cincinnati, OH 45250 Track your package to confirm delivery.

         Q6. Who can sign my request to withdraw my ERC claim? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A6. Your withdrawal request must be signed by an authorized person. The person who can sign an ERC claim or a withdrawal request depends on the type of employer you are.

         People authorized to sign a withdrawal request

         Type of employer	Who can sign a claim for refund for the ERC if you filed an original employment tax return
         Sole proprietorship	The individual who owns the business
         Corporation, including a limited liability company (LLC) treated as a corporation	The president, vice president, or other principal officer duly authorized to sign
         Partnership (including an LLC treated as a partnership) or unincorporated organization	A responsible and duly authorized member, partner, or officer having knowledge of its affairs
         Single-member LLC treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes	The owner of the LLC or a principal officer duly authorized to sign
         Trust or estate	The fiduciary

         Your withdrawal request may also be signed by a duly authorized agent of the taxpayer (i.e., an individual with valid power of attorney via Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, or a reporting agent with Form 8655, Reporting Agent Authorization).

         Q7. Can I withdraw my ERC claimed on an original tax return? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A7. No. You cannot withdraw the ERC you claimed on an original tax return through the ERC claim withdrawal process. You can correct the amount of ERC claimed on an original tax return by filing the adjusted return that applies to your business or organization (Form 941-X, Form 943-X, Form 944-X, Form CT-1X) and making payment for any tax due. If you are claiming a refund, then you need to file your adjusted return within 3 years of filing your original return or two years from making payment (whichever is later).

         If you need to return a refund check for the claim we processed, follow the instructions for mailing your withdrawal request and voided check in How do I withdraw my ERC claim?

         Q8. Can I submit a new, adjusted return to the dedicated ERC claim withdrawal fax line? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A8. No. IRS will not process any new, previously unfiled tax returns (including original filings) sent to the dedicated ERC claim withdrawal fax line.

         Q9. What happens if the IRS processes my earlier return before receiving and processing my withdrawal request? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A9. IRS will reject your request to withdraw your ERC claim if your claim has already been processed. You will need to file a new adjusted return to correct the amount of your previously claimed ERC.

         Q10. How do I withdraw my ERC claim if I used a certified professional employer organization (CPEO), professional employer organization (PEO) or other IRC section 3504 agents? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A10. If you use a professional payroll company and they filed your ERC claim for you, you should consult with them if you want to withdraw your ERC claim. Depending on how the company filed your claim – individually or batched with others – you may need to have them submit your withdrawal request.

         Q11. I’m a CPEO, PEO, or IRC section 3504 agent. Can I use the ERC claim withdrawal process to withdraw the ERC for some, but not all of my common law employer (CLE) clients? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A11. No. Requesting a withdrawal means you are asking the IRS not to process your entire adjusted return for the tax period that included your ERC claim – this would include the ERC claim for all of your CLE clients.

         As a result, you will need to prepare a new adjusted return (Form 941-X, Form 943-X, Form 944-X, Form CT-1X) with the correct amount of ERC and any other corrections for that tax period. Mail the new adjusted return to the IRS using the address in the instructions for the form that applies to your business or organization. Do not send the new adjusted return to the dedicated ERC claim withdraw fax line. IRS will not process new adjusted returns sent to this fax line.

         Q12. What happens after I submit my withdrawal request? (added Oct. 19, 2023)

         A12. The IRS will send you a letter telling you whether your withdrawal request was accepted or rejected. Your approved request is not effective until you have your acceptance letter from the IRS.

         If your withdrawal is accepted, you may need to amend your income tax return. See Claiming the ERC for an explanation of how ERC affects your income tax return. If you need help, seek out a trusted tax professional.

         Q13. If I can’t withdraw my claim, do I have other options to correct my ERC? (updated March 22, 2024)

         A13. You may be able to amend your return if you only need to reduce your ERC claim, not eliminate it for a full tax period. See the Correcting an ERC – Amending a return section.

         If you claimed and received the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), but you are ineligible for a full tax period and need to repay the ERC, review the Employee Retention Credit Voluntary Disclosure Program (ERC-VDP). The ERC-VDP lets employers pay back the credits at a discounted rate.