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Nancy R.
I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.
Claim Your Employee Retention Credit
Were you able to retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic despite your business activities being impacted? If so, you may qualify for a refundable tax credit of up to $26,000 per W2 employee, even if you've already collected the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. If you qualify, Dark Horse CPAs will make sure you get what you’re entitled to.
Rewarding Employers for Retaining Employees
The Employer Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), also called the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), is a refundable tax credit (not a loan or grant) that’s part of the CARES Act. It was designed to encourage employers to keep their employees on the payroll during the pandemic.
Many companies will qualify, and it’s money you don’t have to pay back. Once you apply and qualify, the IRS will send you a check, and you can keep the money. It’s that simple.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
To claim the Employee Retention Credit, you must have been in business in 2020 and meet one of the following criteria
OUR EXPERTISE
OUR EXPERTISE
- Your business operations were either fully or partially suspended by government order. Your business was subject to a governmental order requiring either a full/partial suspension or a modification that had a more than nominal (10%) impact on the business. Mask mandates or supply chain issues will not be enough to meet this requirement.
- You had a significant decline in gross receipts compared to 2019 50% or more quarterly revenue decline in 2020; 20% or more in 2021
- Recovery startup businesses launched during the pandemic and with less than $1 million in gross receipts may also qualify for ERC (for the third or fourth quarters of 2021). Any employer— (A) which began carrying on any trade or business after February 15, 2020, and (B) for which the average annual gross receipts of such employer (as determined under rules similar to the rules under section 448(c)(3) ) for the 3-taxable-year period ending with the taxable year which precedes the calendar quarter for which the credit is determined under subsection (a) does not exceed $1,000,000.
- Even if you collected one or both rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP and PPP2), you may still qualify. You won’t, however, be able to double-count wages used for either round of PPP forgiveness as qualified ERC refunds.
Verify If Your Business is Eligible for ERC for Tax Year . . .
credit gusto:https://gusto.com/resources/articles/taxes/employee-retention-credit
Don't Miss the Deadline
To claim an Employee Retention Credit for 2020, you have to apply by April 15, 2024, and for 2021, the deadline is April 15, 2025.
How Much Can I Get?
The Employee Retention Credit is one that really stacks up and is worth going after. Dark Horse CPAs can help you calculate your credit and submit a claim.
Your ERC Experts
The ERC Can Yield Significant Cash
EXAMPLES OF REAL CREDITS FROM DARK HORSE CLIENTS
Bar/Restuarant
Business Classification
Restaurant
# of Qualified Employees
80
# of Qualified Quarters
5
Total Credit Amount
518,556.06
Church
Business Classification
Religious Institution
# of Qualified Employees
48
# of Qualified Quarters
6
Total Credit Amount
29,529,545
Theater
Business Classification
Entertainment/Ats
# of Qualified Employees
80
# of Qualified Quarters
5
Total Credit Amount
139,945.17
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but not in the direct way you might think. The ERC refund you receive will increase your taxable income in the applicable tax years as it reduces the tax deduction taken for payroll wages on your originally filed income tax returns. This requires you to amend your prior year's business tax returns to report the increased taxable income, and any ERC refund received must be claimed on the income tax return year that corresponds with the payroll tax return year that was amended. Any ERC refund claimed on 2020 941Xs will be reported on an amended 2020 Income Tax Return, while any ERC refund claimed on 2021 941Xs will be reported on an amended 2021 Income Tax Return.
For example, let's assume salaries and wages were $100,000 in the 2020 tax year and $120,000 in the 2021 tax year. After completing the ERC study, it was determined the client qualified for a $50,000 ERC credit in 2020 and a $20,000 ERC credit in the 2021 tax year. In this case, the 2020 tax return for the business would be amended to reduce the salaries & wage deduction claimed on the originally filed tax return by $50,000, thus increasing taxable income for that year by $50,000. The same cadence would apply to the 2021 tax year.
Any wages paid to qualifying employees after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2022, can qualify. Note that 1099 payments made to contractors do not qualify.
The ERC can be claimed for all full-time employees (30+ hours per week) for small employers (defined as 100 or fewer full-time employees for 2020 and 500 or fewer full-time employees for 2021). If your business is larger than that, you can only claim ERC for wages paid to employees for not working.
Wages paid to greater than 50% owners or their relatives are ineligible for the Employee Retention Credit, and it’s important to note that self-employment earnings are also not considered qualified wages.
Once you qualify and file your Employee Retention Credit claim, the U.S. Treasury will send a refund check in approximately four to six months.
No, you don’t. It’s like getting a tax refund—you simply cash the check that the IRS sends you.
In select circumstances, Dark Horse has partnered with Get My Funds LLC (GMF) to enhance the process of identifying and qualifying clients for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). At Dark Horse, we handle credit calculations and payroll tax return filings, while GMF assists with qualification and administration aspects. Our collaboration with GMF is based on our mutual commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance. This partnership ensures that credit calculations adhere to the tax code, while providing clients with a streamlined and efficient credit calculation experience.
Jude T.
After years of feeling underwhelmed by every tax professional I worked with, we finally found Chris Ries at Dark Horse. We did a wide search for a CPA who could handle both our business and personal needs. Chris stood out from the start. He's not just deeply knowledgeable about tax law - he's genuinely thoughtful and strategic in how he applies it to your specific situation. What truly sets Chris apart is how responsive and engaged he is throughout the entire year. Our strategy sessions allowed us to get ahead of issues long before tax season, which made the whole process significantly smoother and less stressful.
Kyle T.
With our prior accountant we didn't feel we were receiving adequate tax guidance and felt we were always paying more than our fair share of taxes. We have been very pleased with the service we have received with Adam Ripperdan. He has taken the time to review in detail our current situation and upcoming plans. With that information he has helped us create tax strategies for our businesses, investments, and personal taxes that not only help us save on taxes but also helps us plan for the future. I highly recommend Dark Horse CPAs.
David H.
Chris is exceptional. He is far more professional, clear in his communication, and knowledgeable than any CPA I’ve worked with. He has expertly managed both my personal and business tax needs and consistently goes above and beyond—helping me make informed, strategic decisions well in advance of future tax filings. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Johnny E.
Chris with Dark Horse is great! He provides so much information and helps me learn about my taxes, not just filing them. He is very passionate about his work and I appreciate the work he does for my company!
John T.
Provides great service. Very professional. Very responsive to questions and inquiries. Very punctual, I would highly recommend their services.
Nancy R.
I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.
Jude T.
After years of feeling underwhelmed by every tax professional I worked with, we finally found Chris Ries at Dark Horse. We did a wide search for a CPA who could handle both our business and personal needs. Chris stood out from the start. He's not just deeply knowledgeable about tax law - he's genuinely thoughtful and strategic in how he applies it to your specific situation. What truly sets Chris apart is how responsive and engaged he is throughout the entire year. Our strategy sessions allowed us to get ahead of issues long before tax season, which made the whole process significantly smoother and less stressful.
Kyle T.
With our prior accountant we didn't feel we were receiving adequate tax guidance and felt we were always paying more than our fair share of taxes. We have been very pleased with the service we have received with Adam Ripperdan. He has taken the time to review in detail our current situation and upcoming plans. With that information he has helped us create tax strategies for our businesses, investments, and personal taxes that not only help us save on taxes but also helps us plan for the future. I highly recommend Dark Horse CPAs.
David H.
Chris is exceptional. He is far more professional, clear in his communication, and knowledgeable than any CPA I’ve worked with. He has expertly managed both my personal and business tax needs and consistently goes above and beyond—helping me make informed, strategic decisions well in advance of future tax filings. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Johnny E.
Chris with Dark Horse is great! He provides so much information and helps me learn about my taxes, not just filing them. He is very passionate about his work and I appreciate the work he does for my company!
John T.
Provides great service. Very professional. Very responsive to questions and inquiries. Very punctual, I would highly recommend their services.
80%
Net Promoter Score
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 80% of our clients would recommend us to a friend
Net Promoter Score
Companies use this metric to gauge how happy their customers are with their services. It's calculated by taking the percentage of "promoters" minus the % of "detractors. "The average NPS score for the accounting industry is 39%, less than the DMV! We believe it's important to share that we have successfully fulfilled our promise to WOW clients and consistently monitor this metric to ensure we continue to deliver on the highest level.
550+
5-Star Reviews
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
5-Star Reviews
When someone shares their experience with us online, we find it extremely valuable to know where we've exceeded expectations and where we can improve. Many of our clients decide to engage with us as a result of reading about other Dark Horse clients’ experiences. Even when things do not go as planned, we do everything we can to make it right.
90%
Retention Rate
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
Retention Rate
This is the frequency of repeat business from our clients that work with us. This means that 9 out of 10 clients use us for subsequent years. That shows us that people enjoy working with our CPAs, are pleased with the work, and want to continue with Dark Horse over the long term.
80%
Net Promoter Score
The average NPS for accounting firms is 38%. At Dark Horse, 80% of our clients would recommend us to a friend
Net Promoter Score
Companies use this metric to gauge how happy their customers are with their services. It's calculated by taking the percentage of "promoters" minus the % of "detractors. "The average NPS score for the accounting industry is 39%, less than the DMV! We believe it's important to share that we have successfully fulfilled our promise to WOW clients and consistently monitor this metric to ensure we continue to deliver on the highest level.
550+
5-Star Reviews
Our Google and Yelp reviews speak for themselves. Our goal is to provide 5-star service to every client, every time.
5-Star Reviews
When someone shares their experience with us online, we find it extremely valuable to know where we've exceeded expectations and where we can improve. Many of our clients decide to engage with us as a result of reading about other Dark Horse clients’ experiences. Even when things do not go as planned, we do everything we can to make it right.
90%
Retention Rate
We're all about creating long-lasting, value-added relationships.
Retention Rate
This is the frequency of repeat business from our clients that work with us. This means that 9 out of 10 clients use us for subsequent years. That shows us that people enjoy working with our CPAs, are pleased with the work, and want to continue with Dark Horse over the long term.
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