“We request the IRS to take immediate action to alleviate this problem by creating a separate phone line and electronic mailbox specifically for small businesses and nonprofit organizations who are claiming this emergency credit and giving a timeline to receive relief.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Levin (D-Michigan) and Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-West Virginia), led a bipartisan group of 66 of their colleagues in a letter to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Charles P. Rettig, highlighting the urgent need to deliver Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) payments to Americans across the country. Despite the tax credit being designed to provide relief to businesses facing COVID-19 related revenue reductions, many small business owners nationwide are reporting wait times of eight to ten months to receive payments.
“As a former small business owner, I understand many small business people’s frustrations during this period of economic instability. Many are hurting due to no fault of their own as a result of the pandemic, rising inflation and other factors,” said Congressman Levin. “In a time when divisiveness and disagreement often keeps us apart, one thing I believe we can all come together on is how small business owners and their employees make up the fabric of our communities, and how vital it is that they receive aid urgently. I’m grateful to my colleague Congresswoman Miller for her incredible work on this effort.”
“The Employee Retention Tax Credit was designed to help America’s small businesses and nonprofits weather the economic storm of COVID-19,” said Congresswoman Miller. “It’s ridiculous that many of them are still waiting on refund credits. The IRS needs to take immediate action to get small businesses and nonprofits the relief they have been counting on for over a year. No business or organization should be punished because the IRS can’t do its job efficiently.”
The letter was signed by Reps. Adam B. Schiff, Adam Smith, Alex X. Mooney, Alma S. Adams, André Carson, Angie Craig, Annie McLane Kuster, Antonio Delgado, Bill Huizenga, Blake Moore, Brian Fitzpatrick, Chellie Pingree, Chris Jacobs, Chris Stewart, Chrissy Houlahan, Colin Allred, Dan Meuser, Daniel T. Kildee, Darin LaHood, David Kustoff, David Schweikert, Dean Phillips, Debbie Dingell, Deborah K. Ross, Dina Titus, Don Bacon, Earl Blumenauer, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Elise Stefanik, Elissa Slotkin, Grace Meng, Guy Reschenthaler, Haley Stevens, Jahana Hayes, Jamie Raskin, Jason Smith, Jenniffer González-Colón, Jimmy Panetta, John Katko, Josh Gottheimer, Karen Bass, Kathleen M. Rice, Kathy Manning, Kevin Hern, Kim Schrier, Lance Gooden, Lucy McBath, Maria Elvira Salazar, Marie Newman, Marilyn Strickland, Mark DeSaulnier, Mark Pocan, Peter Meijer, Peter Welch, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rashida Tlaib, Ruben Gallego, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Stephanie Murphy, Susie Lee, Ted Budd, Terri Sewell, Thomas Suozzi, Tracey Mann and William R. Timmons. Read excerpts below.
“The ERTC was designed to help businesses and nonprofits facing revenue reductions due to the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic may be waning and business and nonprofits are starting to see growing demand, the economic challenges of the last two years remain,” wrote the lawmakers. “In addition, small businesses are facing rising costs for goods and services creating an additional economic urgency to receive their tax credit. The IRS must do all it can to ensure that ERTC claims are processed as quickly as possible, and those payments are sent out immediately.”
“We are also troubled to hear that those making ERTC claims are having difficulty contacting the IRS regarding the status of their applications. We urge you to rectify this and ensure that the IRS directly communicates with those seeking urgent help,” continued the lawmakers. “It is vital that business employers, nonprofits, and congressional offices working on behalf of their constituents can be confident that the IRS is taking immediate and concrete steps to clear the ERTC claims backlog.”
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-miller-lead-bipartisan-letter-irs-addressing-refund-delays
