Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC / ERTC)

What the ERC is

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC, also called ERTC) was a federal payroll tax credit created during the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses that retained employees during qualifying disruption periods. Eligible businesses can claim up to $26,000 per W-2 employee across qualifying quarters in 2020 and 2021.

Important: this is no longer a new claim

The ERC was for qualifying wages paid in 2020 and 2021. Businesses had through April 15, 2024 to file 2020 amended returns and through April 15, 2025 to file 2021 amended returns. If you haven’t filed by those deadlines, it is too late to claim ERC for new wages. If you have already filed an amended return, this page is for you.

A note on aggressive ERC promoters

Over the past several years, a large number of aggressive ERC promoters — some of whom are now the subject of IRS criminal investigations — pushed businesses to file ERC claims they didn’t actually qualify for. The IRS has issued multiple warnings and is actively auditing high-risk filings.

Pro Funding Options will not work on any ERC claim that was prepared without a qualified CPA, tax attorney, or established payroll provider. If you used a flat-fee, contingency-based ERC promoter and you’re now worried about it, the right next step is to talk to a tax professional, not us.

If you’ve already filed and are waiting on a refund

IRS processing of ERC claims has been backlogged. Many businesses are waiting 6–12 months (or longer) for their refund check. If you’re in that position and you need the funds sooner, an ERTC advance can help — the lender pays you most of the refund today and collects from the IRS when the refund arrives.

See our ERTC Advance Financing page for details on how this works.

Disclaimer

Pro Funding Options is not a CPA, tax attorney, or licensed tax preparer. Nothing on this page constitutes tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional about your specific situation.