The Sword - May 2016
Sunday, May 1, 2016
In This Issue
There Is Still Time to Claim Federal Tax Credits for Veterans Hired in 2015
National Distinguished Candidate Conference
There Is Still Time to Claim Federal Tax Credits for Veterans Hired in 2015
How to Claim Federal Tax Credits for Hiring Veterans
Hiring veterans comes with a variety of great benefits, ranging from the leadership and technical skills veterans bring to the table to cost benefits, like relocation savings or savings on healthcare premiums. Included in this latter category are tax credits that employers can claim for hiring qualified veterans.
On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (the PATH Act) that extends and modifies the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program (WOTC), resulting in an extension of the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Credits. Both of these credits expired on December 31, 2014, but were retroactively reinstated for 2015 and extended through the end of 2019. These credits, in addition to the Differential Wage Payment Credit, offer three ways your company can claim tax credits.
Returning Heroes Tax Credit
Short-term Unemployed: A credit of 40% of the first $6,000 of wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been in receipt of unemployment insurance or compensation for at least 4 weeks or who have received assistance from a supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 for at least a three month period during the 15-month period ending on the hiring date.
Long-term Unemployed: A credit of 40% of the first $14,000 of wages (up to $5,600) for employers who hire veterans who have been in receipt of unemployment insurance or compensation for longer than 6 months (whether or not consecutive) in the one-year period ending on the hiring date.
Wounded Warrior Tax Credit
Veterans with Services-Connected Disabilities: Veterans with service-connected disabilities hired within one year of being discharged from the military. The credit is 40% of the first $12,000 of wages (up to $4,800).
Long-Term Unemployed Veterans with Services-Connected Disabilities: A credit of 40% of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been in receipt of unemployment insurance or compensation for longer than 6 months.
Differential Wage Payment Credit
A credit of up to $4,000 for employers who pay Reserve and National Guard employees while they are away on active duty for more than 30 days and have been employed for more than 90 days. Formerly available only to small businesses in 2015, it is now permanently available to all employers.
How to file:
The deadline to file for those hired January 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016, is June 29, 2016. The forms must be filed within 28 days for those hired after May 31, 2016. Below is a list of the forms needed to file for each of these credits:
Returning Heroes
IRS Form 5884 (or 5884-C for tax-exempts)
Wounded Warrior
IRS Form 5884 (or 5884-C for tax-exempts)
Differential Wage Payment
Many states also offer tax credits for hiring veterans. For example, Alabama has the Heroes for Hire Income Tax Credit, which provides a $1,000 tax credit for job creation to employers who hire recently deployed, now discharged, unemployed veterans. Click here to learn more and see if your state offers such a credit.
PLEASE NOTE: Orion ICS, LLC, its affiliates and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice to any taxpayer. This content is for general information purposes only, and is not intended or written to be used without the advice of the taxpayer's independent tax advisor. Thank you for reading about tax credits for hiring veterans.
National Distinguished Candidate Conferences
Mark your calendar for our upcoming National Distinguished Candidate Conferences:
June 6-7, 2016 in San Diego, CA
July 11-12, 2016 in Columbus, OH
Since 1991, our clients have told us that the most important factor in deciding to hire military through an agency is the Quality of Candidate. Our unique Distinguished Candidate Conference is designed to recruit, assess, screen, and present the top military candidates for your hiring needs. In 2014, nearly 100 client companies strategically hired Orion's Military Officers through our Distinguished Candidate Conferences, with over 40% making multiple hires.
Orion's Distinguished Candidates are carefully selected and represent the very top tier of Military Officers transitioning from Active Duty. They are seeking careers in growth roles including Leadership Development, Operations Management, Engineering, and Sales.
Our Junior Military Officer Candidates at these National Events:
- Service Academy Graduates and graduates of the nation's top universities.
- Candidates with MBAs and other advanced degrees; and those with PMPs, PEs, and other professional certifications.
- Candidates who have consistently ranked well above their peers in their professional military evaluations.
- Willing to relocate and geographically flexible.
Distinguished Candidate Conference Highlights:
- This event will feature 30 minute Client Presentations in which you can present to the candidates you'll be interviewing in advance. We recommend a C-level or VP Presenter for client presentations.
- Enjoy an additional opportunity for socializing with the candidates and other Hiring Managers, at our President's Reception following the Keynote Address on Monday evening.
- Pre-screened, assessed, qualified Officer Candidates suitably matched for your particular hiring needs.
- A private and professional interview setting.
- Personalized attention to ensure the best in customer service, including insight on the candidates and advice on the most effective hiring strategy.
In addition, Orion's Executive Leadership Team will be available throughout the event to meet and discuss your company's talent planning and how our dedicated on-boarding programs, assessment tools, and other enterprise-scale service offerings may be able to support your organization in 2015 and beyond.
What do our clients have to say about the caliber of candidates at an Orion Distinguished Candidate Conference?
"Our experience at Orion's Distinguished Candidate Conference was a great success. The candidates were of the highest caliber and extremely well matched for our Leadership Development Program. This event enabled us to hire 5 outstanding JMOs very efficiently, saving weeks of time. I look forward to seeing the impact these new leaders will have on BP." - Program Manager, BP
The Distinguished Candidate Conference enables you to develop a strong pipeline of future leaders and foster strategic organizational growth.
Learn more about our Distinguished Candidate Conferences and discover for yourself the impact a Military Officer can have on your organization.
Upcoming Hiring Conferences
Orion Military Hiring Conferences - Interview Junior Military Officers, Noncommissioned Officers and Enlisted Technicians Recruited for your Hiring Needs
An Orion Hiring Conference is your chance to interview the best military job seekers, selected specifically for your open positions. You will be presented with prescreened, qualified and suitably matched veterans that are interested in your available opportunities. Click on the dates below to learn more about our upcoming hiring conferences.
Northwest
Seattle, WA May 13, 2016
South Central
Dallas, TX May 16, 2016
Southeast
Atlanta, GA May 17, 2016
Midwest
Detroit, MI May 23, 2016
Northeast
Norfolk, VA May 23, 2016
According to Our Clients
"Orion provided us with many qualified candidates. The hard part was choosing which ones we wanted. We were very impressed with the quality of candidates we were able to interview."- Ryan Carr, Equipment Engineer
Meet Our Candidates
The battle for talent in the workplace can be fierce. It doesn't have to be if you know where to look. Below is a preview of actual Orion International candidates and the valuable skills and experience they possess.
Logistics Officer View Resume
Army Officer with a Master's Degree View Resume
Navy Nuclear Electronics Technician View Resume
Operations Officer View Resume
Air Force Industrial Mechanic View Resume
Refer a Colleague to Hire Military Talent
Is your company or that of a friend or colleague in need of military talent? For every referral you provide, you will be automatically entered into our monthly drawing for a $50 gift card. Even better, if your referral results in a hire, you will personally receive a $100 gift card as our way of saying thank you. As always, we will maintain your privacy and never share your information nor that of your referral.
Connect with Orion
Did you know that there are several ways to connect with Orion and learn how veterans impact the civilian workforce?
- Join our LinkedIn group for employers, Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet®. This group is a great way to show your support of veterans in the civilian workforce.
- Read our blog, Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet®.
- Follow Orion on Twitter (@hirevets).
