COLUMBUS, Ohio – As part of Second Chance Month, Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, is reminding Ohio employers that they can receive federal tax credits of up to $9,600 for hiring individuals from certain designated groups.
Designated groups include restored citizens, public assistance recipients, individuals with disabilities, veterans and others who face barriers to employment. In addition, employers can receive $5,000 worth of free fidelity bond coverage for each at-risk, hard-to-place job seeker they hire.
“We encourage employers to take advantage of these opportunities,” Damschroder said. “They make it easier for employers to grow their workforces and give more Ohioans facing a range of circumstances the opportunity to find meaningful and fulfilling jobs.”
ODJFS supervises the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit and the Federal Bonding Program for Ohio. WOTC provides tax credits ranging from $1,200 to $9,600, depending on the designated group. It can lower employers’ tax bills dollar for dollar. The Federal Bonding Program covers an individual’s first six months of employment. The program protects employers against losses caused by fraudulent or dishonest acts, and coverage is free.
From October 2023 to December 2024, ODJFS certified 113,617 WOTC applications. As a result, 4,443 Ohio employers received more than $321 million in tax credits.
WOTC applications must be submitted online HERE within 28 days of an individual’s start-to-work date. For more information, employers can email wotc_contact@jfs.ohio.gov.
For more information about the Federal Bonding Program, click HERE or email Ohiobonds4jobs@jfs.ohio.gov.