Beyond WOTC: Protect the Incentives You Count On And What’s Next

On August 14, 2025, HRlogics and Tri-Merit hosted a webinar to help employers, HR leaders, and accounting professionals prepare for the uncertain future of federal hiring credits, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and Federal Empowerment Zone (FEZ). With both programs set to expire on December 31, 2025, the conversation centered on what’s at stake, what’s likely to happen next, and how businesses can protect themselves in the meantime.

During the session, presenters shared the legislative history of WOTC, showing that while expirations have occurred before, Congress has consistently authorized retroactive renewals. Attendees learned why it’s risky to pause screening now, and how platforms like Ryze can flag and hold candidates to ensure credits are preserved regardless of renewal timing.

The webinar also covered actionable next steps, including how to:

• Contact federal legislators using ready-to-send templates to advocate for credit continuation.
• Identify state and local tax credits that are often overlooked, such as FICA Tip Credits, youth hiring programs, and state-level incentives.
• Engage CPAs in conversations about missed opportunities using data-driven insights rather than assumptions.

By the end of the session, attendees walked away with a clear understanding of:

• The legislative status and renewal history of WOTC and FEZ.
• Why businesses should continue screening new hires despite the looming expiration.
• How to leverage Ryze to map federal, state, and local opportunities in seconds and uncover hidden credits.

For businesses, the priority is to continue screening employees, prepare advocacy outreach, and evaluate additional credits already available at the state level. Using Ryze, employers can quantify their potential savings and enter discussions with CPAs better equipped to capture every opportunity.

Those who act now can protect thousands of dollars per hire, reduce tax burdens through state credits, and safeguard their position ahead of any legislative decision on WOTC and FEZ.

Watch the full webinar recording and learn how to protect WOTC, explore state-level incentives, and start identifying overlooked credits today.