--- title: Employee Retention Credit Guidance Published description: The IRS published guidance for employers who are claiming the employee retention credit for the first two quarters of 2021. image: https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-headers/ee%20retention%20credit%20B.jpg --- ![Employee Retention Credit Guidance Published](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-headers/ee%20retention%20credit%20B.jpg) # Employee Retention Credit Guidance Published - Home - [Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers](https://blog.nisbenefits.com) - Employee Retention Credit Guidance Published [ Steve Smith ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/steve-smith) 04/15/2021 [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) [0 Comments ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employee-retention-credit-guidance-published#postComment) 1 Minutes *1.5 minute read* The IRS published [Notice 2021-23](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-21-23.pdf) to provide guidance for those employers who are claiming the employee retention credit (ERC) for the first two quarters of 2021. The notice provides information about the changes effective for the first two quarters of 2021, including: - Maximum credit amount has been increased to 70% of qualified wages paid between January 1 and June 30, 2021 - Expansion of the category of employers that may be eligible to claim the credit - Gross receipts test modifications - Qualified wages are limited to $10,000 per employee per calendar quarter in 2021 - The maximum ERC per employee is $7,000 per quarter for a total of $14,000 for Q1 and Q2 Employers can access the ERC for Q1 and Q2 of 2021 prior to filing their employment tax returns by reducing employment tax deposits. Employers with 500 or fewer full-time employees can receive advance payment of the credit (subject to certain limits) after reducing deposits. The ERC will also be available for the third and fourth quarters of 2021 and additional guidance will be forthcoming. Stayed tuned to our [blog](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/) for more details. [Download the bulletin](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20supporting%20documents/bulletin-retention-credit-guidance.pdf) for more details. [![Medical Savings Accounts](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3325505/db91a97a-b568-44ce-8a0d-c75dd4717dbc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3325505/db91a97a-b568-44ce-8a0d-c75dd4717dbc) *This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state, and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.* --- #### Tag: [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employee-retention-credit-guidance-published) - [Follow us on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employee-retention-credit-guidance-published&text=Employee%20Retention%20Credit%20Guidance%20Published) - [Follow us on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employee-retention-credit-guidance-published) - [Follow us on Pinterest ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/employee-retention-credit-guidance-published&text=Employee%20Retention%20Credit%20Guidance%20Publisheddescription=1.5%20minute%20read%20The%20IRS%20published%20Notice%202021-23%20to%20provide%20guidance%20for%20those%20employers%20who%20are%20claiming%20the%20employee%20retention%20credit%20(ERC)%20for%20the%20first%20two[...]&media=https://info.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-headers/ee%20retention%20credit%20B.jpg) --- [ #### ARPA COBRA Subsidy Model Notices and FAQs Issued ##### Previous Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/arpa-cobra-subsidy-model-notices-faqs-issued) [#### Premium Tax Credit FAQs ##### Next Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/premium-tax-credit-faqs) ### Leave a Reply This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - 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