Miller-led contingent seeks passage of tax credit supporting small businesses, nonprofits

Rep. Carol Miller

U.S. Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) led 29 of her colleagues in urging congressional leaders to approve bipartisan legislation that would reinstate a federal tax credit to help America’s small businesses and nonprofits rehire and retain employees they had to let go due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Specifically, Rep. Miller and her colleagues seek passage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act, H.R. 6161/S. 3625, which would reinstate the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) through the end of calendar year 2021. 

“By reinstating the ERTC, struggling small businesses and nonprofits can access one of the last remaining pandemic recovery programs to receive the help they need to replenish their workforce and get back on track,” said Rep. Miller, who introduced her chamber’s version of the bill in December 2021. 

“As we continue to emerge from this public health emergency, we must remember that small businesses and nonprofits in West Virginia and across the country still need our support,” she added. “I urge congressional leaders to pass our bill as soon as possible to give these businesses and employees the certainty they need to keep their doors open.”

That sentiment is reiterated in a March 3 letter that Rep. Miller and her colleagues sent to leaders in Congress.

“Over the past several months, we have been hearing from constituents on the negative impacts on their small businesses and nonprofit organizations due to the early termination of the ERTC,” the lawmakers wrote. “Therefore, we respectfully urge you to prioritize passage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act.”

The ERTC originally was set to expire at the end of 2021, however the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act disallowed the credit for the fourth quarter of 2021, according to their letter.

“Many small businesses and nonprofits had continued to take the tax credit into the fourth quarter, and now face a retroactive tax increase and a complex, frustrating process to reconcile the credit that they had to forfeit,” the lawmakers wrote.

Rep. Miller and her colleagues pointed out that the bill is supported by more than 70 cosponsors in total from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and is endorsed by over 70 organizations, including the National Automatic Merchandising Association and the National Council of Nonprofits.

Among the members who signed onto the letter were U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Rice (R-SC), John Katko (R-NY), and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL).