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Why the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Could be the Relief Your Business Needs

While most businesses across the country have come to a grinding halt as “stay at home” orders are put into place, there are some essential businesses that are desperate for employees. Grocery stores, delivery businesses and the like are searching for employees and can’t seem to find enough to fill the need.

If you’re one of them, now is the best time to take a look at the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). It could open up a whole new pool of potential employees to your business.

What is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)?

As we’ve talked about in previous posts, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a credit that’s given to employers who hire employees from certain groups. Groups like veterans, ex-felons, the long-term unemployed and people on food stamps.

One of the best things to know about the WOTC is that it is unlimited. Whether you hire ten workers or one hundred that fall into these specific groups, you’re allowed to take a tax credit for the first year of that person’s employment as long as that person meets the IRS requirements. You can find out more about those exact requirements here.

For people not so savvy about taxes, that’s even better than a tax deduction. A tax credit is a dollar for dollar match. In simple math terms, if you owe $10,000 in taxes and you have $10,000 worth of tax credits, you’re net zero in what you owe.

Why is the WOTC even more beneficial now?

It’s crazy to think, but the WOTC may be even more beneficial to businesses now than it was at the start of 2020. That’s because there are some very interesting things happening on Capitol Hill and it could mean double the benefits for employers.

While the actual wording from the IRS is still being worked out, the WOTC may be able to work in conjunction with the Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act. The CAREs Act is the $2 trillion bill that was signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020. If the employer can claim both the WOTC and the Employee Retention Credit at the same time, that employer would have multiple tax credits for the same employee.

It’s something we’re keeping a close eye on here at Tax Credit Group.

Why should I hire WOTC employees?

Which leads to the question that many employers ask: if it’s so great, why aren’t more companies taking advantage of the WOTC?

The answer is they don’t know about it.

Major corporations like Boeing and Lockheed Martin are taking advantage of the WOTC. They are two of the leading employers of military veterans (CNBC) and also employ many people with disabilities (Monster.com). Companies like these are making the most of the tax credits because they employ people who understand the intricacies of taxes and tax credits.

It’s the smaller businesses that miss out on tax credits and they shouldn’t be because they need the savings more. Businesses like these need a company like us to help them see the tax credits they’re missing, including the WOTC.

Aside from the tax credit, what’s the benefit of hiring WOTC employees?

Tax credit aside, WOTC employees bring with them other benefits.

We’ve written about the benefits of hiring ex-felons and military veterans in the past. Those are two good reference articles as you look to hire from these key groups. If you’re an employer that’s simply trying to figure out how a role in the military would translate into something beneficial to your company, check out our post on translating military service to the civilian job market.

Conclusion

We here at Tax Credit Group understand that the novel coronavirus has brought about new and frightening situations for small businesses. For some, it means explosive growth as an essential business. For others, it means shutdown and uncertainty.

In both cases, there are bills at the federal and state levels that are designed to help. We’ve created a couple of resources for you as your business moves forward including how to prepare your business for the possibility of coronavirus. There’s also a post that gathers all the key resources for small businesses in one place.

Tax Credit Group is monitoring everything that’s happening at the federal level very closely. As of April 1, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CAREs Act are both up and operating. Reach out to us and we’d be happy to look at what that means for your business. We’ll also look for any state and local help that may be available to you.

Resources to Look at During COVID-19

About a week ago, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The bipartisan legislation was designed to make sure that households don’t fall apart in these uncertain times. If you want full details on what the Act means to small and medium-sized businesses, you can see our post from last week.

The government’s response to what’s happening with COVID-19 (a.k.a. novel coronavirus) is constantly changing and so there is a lot to read if you want the latest and most accurate news. If it seems like it’s overwhelming at times, we here at Tax Credit Group understand.

To help, we gathered together some links that you want to keep an eye on. These are links that will be updated by their respective agencies as the situation on Capitol Hill changes. That means you don’t have to worry about seeking out the updates through news feeds because these agencies will be updating directly.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

The CDC’s Guidance Business Response link (here) will help businesses understand the best way to plan, prepare and respond to the novel coronavirus. The link includes updated cleaning and disinfection guidelines for businesses as well as the best practices for social distancing in the workplace and strategies and recommendations for how businesses can respond to COVID-19.

The CDC has additional resources for businesses here.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The IRS recently extended the federal tax filing deadline to July 15 to give businesses and individuals more time to pay and file their taxes.

The IRS Coronavirus page, found here, gives you a general overview of all of the actions taken by the IRS during the COVID-19 outbreak.

For details on what the IRS is doing for businesses as of March 24, 2020, check out the letter that the IRS posted on its website addressing the changes. You can find it here.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA is a federal agency designed to give advice and guidance to small businesses.

The SBA has a page dedicated to guidance on loan resources for businesses that are suffering during the COVID-19 response, here.

America’s Small Business Development Center works in conjunction with the SBA. It has its own list of resources to help small businesses through these tough times here.

Consumer Finance

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau has an entire site dedicated to protecting your money during coronavirus. You can find it here.

State and Local Help

When it comes to state and local help, it’s going to vary depending on where you live.

Major cities like New York City and San Francisco are creating specific sites to help small businesses and employees understand what’s happening within their city and how they can get help. Many major cities and counties are creating sites like these to deal with all the issues that small and medium-sized business owners are facing and it’s important to know if your local government has one.

Your state government may have a separate site designed to help as well.

Other Financial Help

If you want to know how the latest changes in the federal government affect your taxes, you can also check out publications like Accounting Today, which just ran an article about the federal government allowing you to use your payroll tax credits to help pay for paid leave during coronavirus (here).

The Tax Foundation also has articles that look at what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and what it means for your taxes both in the U.S. and abroad. You can see a great overview of it all here.

A word of warning…

These articles are very informative, but they are also very dense looks at accounting and taxes. They can be difficult for the average small business owner to understand without a background in accounting. That’s why Tax Credit Group is here to help. If you ever have questions about how the current situation on Capitol Hill or how your state is going to affect you and your business, please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help.

Please stay safe and healthy!

Possible Relief for Employees of Small Businesses Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus

Note: This article was written on Thursday, March 19, 2020, less than 24 hours after President Trump signed the bill into law. It covers what’s happening on Capitol Hill at this time, but does by no means represent what could happen in the future. This is a fluid situation. Information is constantly changing. Because this affects so many of our clients, friends, and family, we here at Tax Credit Group felt like it was something that needed to be addressed.

The coronavirus (a.k.a. COVID-19) is hurting small businesses and families across the United States and now the federal government is stepping in to try and alleviate some of the pain. On Wednesday evening, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. It’s an act designed to help small businesses and wage workers deal with the impact of the coronavirus.

Here’s what we know now and what it means to you, your family, and your business.

What is the Families First Coronavirus Response Act?

The bill was created in the House of Representatives after extensive meetings between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. It is designed to provide paid leave for workers who have been affected by the coronavirus, including those who fall ill themselves and those that have to stay at home to care for a child whose school has closed because of the coronavirus.

Small and medium-sized businesses have approximately 15 days to comply with the act.

There are a couple of important components of this bill that you need to know. First, the relief will not last forever. These are short term solutions aimed at making it possible for America’s workforce to survive a three- or four-week shutdown.

Second, it doesn’t cover ALL wage workers in the United States.

Why the Families First Coronavirus Response Act May Not Help Millions of American Workers

The Washington Post points out that one large group of the American workforce is not mentioned in this bill, employees who work for major corporations with 500 or more employees. Lawmakers are relying on major corporations to “do the right thing” and offer sick leave and paid family leave to their employees during this crisis, but there’s no federal mandate behind it.

Corporations like Walmart, Chipotle, and Starbucks are offering varied leave programs for employees. Because there are no federal standards, these policies are not the same for everyone. While one corporation may offer two weeks of sick pay, another may only offer one week.

The result, while some hourly employees are taken care of, others are left trying to figure out how to earn enough money to care for their families.

Why the Families First Coronavirus Response Act could hurt small businesses

While the Families First Coronavirus Response Act takes great efforts to help the employees of small and midsized companies, it causes problems for those midsized and small businesses. According to The Washington Post, these companies will be required to offer two weeks of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for employees affected by the coronavirus who have worked for the company for at least a month.

The businesses will get the money back eventually, but they’ll have to foot the bill until then.

The idea is that the businesses will pay their employees and then receive the money back in the form of a tax credit. So, if a business pays out $10,000 in employee sick and family leave during this time, it will see a dollar for dollar match the next time it files taxes. That means it could be as much as a year if not more before some of these businesses recoup all of their money.

Small Window of Relief for Small Businesses

The bill does allow for some small businesses to apply to be exempt from this requirement, but those businesses must prove that paying would “jeopardize the viability of the business”.

Since this rule has not been tested, we don’t know how lenient or strict federal officials will be with exemptions.

Other Families First Coronavirus Response Act Highlights

According to Forbes, there is more help within the bill for America’s most vulnerable communities.

  • There are specific funds for Women Infants and Children (WIC) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The bill also allows for state plans to provide food to families with children that would have received free or reduced-price meals if school was in session.
  • It also provides about 25 million more home-delivered and pre-packaged meals to low-income seniors through the Senior Nutrition Program.
  • It will reimburse people without health insurance for COVID-19 testing and services.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs will fund COVID-19 testing for veterans.

Small Business Help in Illinois

States are also doing their part to try and alleviate the pain for small businesses. On Tuesday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that he was filing for a federal loan program to help small businesses in Illinois.

According to WGEM, the Governor’s Office has also taken extra steps to try and alleviate the pain for small businesses and wage workers. Among the moves within the office:

  • An executive order to waive the 7-day waiting period that residents normally have to wait to receive unemployment insurance. The office is also working with the federal government to try and extend benefits beyond 26 weeks if the crisis continues.
  • A request to the Illinois Commerce Commission to immediately issue a moratorium on utility shutoffs across the state including energy, telecommunications, and water. As well as a change in the payment process so people are not saddled with debt during this tough time.
  • An effort to expand the services of state food banks. The state has already received a waiver from the federal government to continue handing out meals to children who qualify for free and reduced lunches.
  • A federal waiver has been filed to expand Medicaid coverage.

Preparing Your Business for the Coronavirus

You’re probably sick of hearing about it now. The coronavirus is on the front page of every newspaper around the world and the top story on every website. It’s something that’s affecting both large and small businesses and many local health agencies are struggling to make sure the messages are clear.

Whether you’re in an area that has been affected by the coronavirus or in one that has yet to feel the effects of the virus, it is still a good idea to get your business prepared for the possibility that the coronavirus will affect you, your workforce, and your company’s product.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released several guidelines to make sure that businesses do what they can to prevent the spread of the virus. The suggestions below are based upon recommendations by the CDC.

Review your sick leave policy and re-evaluate it if possible

The CDC suggests that any employees that have a fever of 100.4°F or higher stay home from work until they are fever-free without the help of fever-reducing or symptom altering medicines for at least 24 hours. This means employees could be forced to stay home for days at a time.

If you have a company sick leave policy, make sure that you review it with your employees, so they know what’s expected of them. Who do they notify if they are out sick? Do they have to call in when they are sick, or can it be via text message or email?

If your sick policy requires a doctor’s note for multiple days of missed work, the CDC suggests that you ignore that requirement because medical facilities are extremely busy at this time.

There’s also the issue of pay. Are employees paid when they take a sick day? How many sick days are available to each employee?

Review all of these issues with your employees. Make sure you’re prepared for the possibility that an employee may need to stay home to care for themselves, a sick child or an elderly family member.

Send employees home

You should also be ready to send employees home if they start to show signs of illness during the workday. The CDC recommends “…that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) …be sent home immediately.”

One of the best ways to keep other employees from getting sick is to send home employees who show signs of illness.

Remind employees about good hygiene procedures

Everyone in your business must be on the same page when it comes to hygiene so that you limit the spread of germs.

  • Promote proper cough and sneeze etiquette within the office and hand washing hygiene. If you’re concerned about how to do this, the CDC has some great posters that you can print out and post around the office and in the office bathroom. They’re gentle reminders to keep good hygiene at the forefront of employees’ minds.
  • Remind employees that alcohol-based hand sanitizer should contain 60-95% alcohol and if possible, provide employees with hand sanitizer at various locations in the office.
  • Handwashing should be with soap and water and last for at least 20 seconds. Make sure soap is always available in the bathrooms and restock immediately if it runs out.
  • Offer tissues and no-touch garbage cans for employees. No-touch meaning lidless or a lid that opens with the wave of the hand or the stomp of the foot.

Routine cleaning

Routine cleaning is also very important to stop the spread of the disease. Pay special attention to the frequently touched surfaces in the office including doorknobs, countertops, and workstations. Health agencies say cleaning agents like Clorox or Lysol are good enough to get the job done, so don’t worry about rushing out to buy a special cleaner.

If possible, provide employees with disposable cleaning wipes so they can clean their work surfaces, keyboards, desks, and doorknobs.

Other steps

If you live in an area where there are cases of novel coronavirus, also called COVID-19, then your local health department may have issued other advisories for businesses. Among the most common:

  • Avoid large employee meetings.
  • Allow employees to work from home if possible.

Even those that do not test positive for the coronavirus can be affected by it. Take steps now to make sure that you, your employees, and your business are not caught off guard.

Work Place Advice: What You Should and Should Not Say to Military Veterans

In any workplace environment, it’s important there must be a camaraderie built between the people who work together. They don’t need to go out after work and grab beers together, but they should at least feel comfortable talking to one another and working together.

If you’ve never worked closely with or personally met a military veteran, it can be tough to find a shared interest right off the bat. It’s natural for you to think that talking to the veteran about his or her military service is the best way to build a relationship, but if you’re not careful you can do more harm than good.

Here are some things you should and should not say to military veterans, whether in the workplace or at something as casual as a barbecue.

DO NOT ask about killing someone or someone who died

This seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many military veterans say they’ve been asked a question along this line of thinking.

  • Have you ever killed someone?
  • What does it feel like to kill someone?
  • Have you ever seen someone killed?
  • What’s the worst thing that happened to you over there?

Another one along this line of thinking:

  • Do you have any friends that died?

Business Insider talked to several veterans who say this shows that people may not have a full grasp on the personal issues veterans face after returning including PTSD.

Think about it. Would you ask anyone else these questions? No. They sound creepy. Stay away from this line of thinking.

DO ask about travel

There’s nothing wrong with asking a veteran if he or she traveled during their service. The site Military.com has some great questions like:

  • Did you visit other countries?
  • Where was your favorite place you lived?

This is a great way to try and find common ground with someone new.

DO NOT speculate about a veteran’s feelings

Phrases like:

  • We all owe you.
  • You must be glad to be back.
  • You must have gone through so much.
  • Do you have PTSD?

These all sound good in theory but can do more harm to a relationship than good.

According to Business Insider’s survey of veterans, there are times that “…well-intentioned adulation can go too far.” Veterans also say that returning home after military service can sometimes be disorienting and tough so phrases like these can sound more patronizing than friendly.

DO ask about the person’s connection to the military

You don’t have to avoid questions about the military altogether, in fact, asking about a person’s connection to the military is a good thing.

  • How long did you serve?
  • What branch of the military did you serve in?
  • Why did you choose that branch?
  • Do you come from a military family?

It’s a great way to get to know someone with questions that aren’t too personal, but still show you’re interested in finding out more about the person.

DO NOT treat a female veteran differently

The military is not just for men, it’s for women too. Diversity Inc. points out that you should not talk to a female veteran as though she were invading a man’s world.

  • Why did you join, isn’t the military is a job for men?
  • You’re a mother/wife, how could you leave your family while you were deployed?
  • How did your husband/boyfriend feel about you being around all those men?

Women are just as capable as men and they should be treated as such.

DO ask about other interests

While being a veteran is a very important status to many former members of the military, it’s only one aspect of their lives. Veterans are people with a variety of interests. Don’t be afraid to ask about hobbies, favorite sports teams or families.

While a person’s military service is a great jumping-off point for a conversation, it doesn’t have to be the only thing you talk about.

Changes Making it Easier for Veterans to Pursue Degrees in STEM Fields

For years now, military veterans studying under the GI Bill have studiously avoided degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) because there’s simply not enough money to make it happen. The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers 36 months of tuition, but education to earn a degree in a STEM field typically takes longer than that, especially for veterans who have to worry about their families along with their education.

That’s now changing.

SB 153 Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act Becomes Law

The most recent change is the signing of SB 153. On February 11, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. One of the key points of the bill is that it allows veterans to be eligible for some National Science Foundation (NSF) programs. The NSF will in turn “…encourage veterans to study and pursue careers in STEM and computer science in coordination with other federal agencies that serve veterans, and submit a plan to Congress for enhancing veterans outreach.”

The bill will also make certain scholarships, fellowships, masters programs and grants available to veterans pursuing degrees in the STEM field.

The bill is just another way the U.S. government is trying to make degrees in STEM fields more accessible to veterans without the financial burden that often comes with spending extra time in college to pursue those degrees.

Forever GI Bill

The federal government is also doing what it can to make sure that veterans are aware of the programs already in existence. In 2018, the Forever GI Bill was created in part to help extend GI Bill benefits to veterans pursuing degrees in STEM fields.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a full breakdown of all the adjustments under the Forever GI Bill here, but one of the highlights is that qualifying veterans can apply for up to nine months more of tuition coverage.

They can do that through the Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship. Students who have used up most or all of their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can apply for up to nine months of additional tuition or $30,000. The scholarship is designed for veterans pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree or graduates with a STEM degree who are now pursuing a teaching degree.

Nonprofit Help

There are also some nonprofits specifically designed to help veterans with the transition from military life back to education. Groups like the Student Veterans of America offer advice for military members continuing education as well as local support groups.

5 Ways Volunteering Can Help Ex-Felons Get a Job

When it comes to getting a job, it can be tough for ex-felons. Even though they’ve served their time, their records can follow them into the job market. Unless an employer is willing to take a chance on them, they can be unemployable.

But there may be a way to increase their odds of getting hired. Through volunteering.

Volunteering Improves Skills

Volunteering can help ex-felons improve the skills they have and develop new skills. Volunteers have the opportunity to practice the skills they have and try new things usually in a low-pressure environment. Employers are never going to pass on hiring someone just because they know too many things.

Volunteering Helps You Meet New People

It seems like everyone knows a guy who knows a guy who might have a job opening. That’s great in theory, but sometimes that circle of friends gets exhausted pretty quickly.

Volunteering is a great way to get out there and meet a whole new circle of friends and that new connection may just lead to a new job.

Volunteering Offers Proof Through Hard Work

For ex-felons especially, it can be difficult to prove to a potential employer that they are worth the risk. However, through volunteering, an ex-felon has the opportunity to prove that he or she is reliable, respectful, and hard-working. When an employer sees this, he or she is much more likely to take a chance and offer a paid position.

As the adage goes, the proof is in the pudding.

The Psychological Benefit of Volunteering

Don’t underestimate the psychological benefit of volunteering. It can be mentally trying to hear rejection after rejection. Studies have shown that volunteering helps lift spirits and make people feel needed.

According to HelpGuide.org, volunteering helps you counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. It helps you combat depression; it increases your self-confidence and your sense of purpose.

Volunteering Helps Prevent Recidivism

Along with the mental health aspect of volunteering, there’s also another positive that comes out of it. According to the site Good Hire, volunteering curbs criminal thinking. “When a former offender understands the concept of ‘giving back’ through volunteering, that goes a very long way towards changing negative thought patterns,” the site says.

Tips for Volunteering

Volunteering isn’t just something to do. Like a job search, ex-felons should put thought into where they want to volunteer and why. Here are some tips for ex-felons considering the volunteer route.

  • Choose a volunteer opportunity that interests you. You’re far more likely to work hard and give your best effort if you like or believe in what you’re doing.
  • Treat your volunteer work like paid work. Show up on time, pay attention, and stay off your phone. Show your managers and anyone else who sees you what it would be like to work with you if you were paid for your work.
  • Use your skills and knowledge. Think of this as a long, drawn-out job interview. You want to impress. If you have a skill that can impress, use it.

Why the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) May Be the Tax Credit Your Employees are Missing

In 2018, the tax code was changed and many of those changes dealt with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For higher wage earners, these changes weren’t helpful. For low wage earners, the changes have meant smaller tax payments and sometimes even refunds.

If you’re a company that takes advantage of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) then odds are you have one or more employees that could take advantage of the 2018 changes to the EITC. But most of your employees may not know that’s an option.

What is the Earned Income Tax Credit?

The very first line on the IRS webpage says, “The Earned Income Tax Credit, EITC or EIC, is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income…EITC reduces the amount of tax you owe and may give you a refund.”

To qualify for the EITC, you must earn income by working for someone or by running or owning your own business. The IRS has a whole list of questions that will help you determine if you qualify for the EITC. You can find it here.

The maximum income you are allowed to earn and still qualify for the EITC will vary depending on whether you’re married or single and how many children you claim as dependents. There’s a full table here.

Why employees need to get new advice about the Earned Income Tax Credit every year

The one thing employees need to know is just because they qualified for the EITC last tax season, it does not mean that they automatically qualify for the EITC this tax season. By the same token, just because they didn’t qualify last tax season, they could qualify this tax season.

Several life situations can disqualify an employee from the EITC or qualify an employee that did not qualify before, such as:

  • A new job;
  • A change in the spouse’s employment’;
  • Unemployment;
  • A change in marital status;
  • Dependent children becoming adults.

If one or more of these things change, then the employee can move into or out of the tax bracket that allows him or her to take advantage of the EITC.

How can an employee find out if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit?

If the IRS paperwork is too confusing, and it can be, the IRS has other ways to help low-income earners get tax advice. The IRS website has a search tool to help people find free tax help. In many instances, there are translators on-site for the key languages such as Spanish, Chinese, French, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

You can find the locator tool here.

Be careful offering tax advice to employees

Lastly, a disclaimer to keep you out of legal trouble.

You need to be very careful when talking about taxes with your employees. While you may be business savvy and have the answers they are looking for, unless you’re a licensed tax professional you cannot give tax advice.

You cannot advise an employee to do something or not do something financially, even if it’s in his or her best interest.

You also cannot help him or her fill out any tax forms. Once again, you are not a licensed tax professional.

What you can do is make employees aware of some of the opportunities available to them and allow them to look into it on their own.

Top Franchises for Military Veterans and Ways to Get Started

For many military veterans, the idea of finding a civilian job can be a scary thing. It’s a major change from the years they spent in service to our country. For some veterans, the idea of putting those leadership skills to good use as a small business owner is much more appealing. Thankfully, the federal government and some of the nation’s biggest companies want to make it easy for veterans to do just that.

Top Types of Franchises for Military Veterans

Entrepreneur.com takes the time to look at franchises every year and determine which ones are trending in the right direction and which ones aren’t worth the time. The company’s editorial team evaluates franchises overall but also creates a special list just for military veterans.

The team looks at things like discounts offered to veterans, help and training offered, and company health when determining the best franchises for veterans looking to own their own businesses.

Below are some of the key industries at the top of Entrepreneur.com’s list.

Travel Agencies

According to Entrepreneur.com, one of the best types of franchises for veterans to own is a travel agency. The site names Dream Vacations as it’s number one franchise for veterans. Dream Vacations offers 20 percent off the franchise fee for veterans and waives the training fee. It also helps the veteran with marketing assets. Startup costs are also relatively reasonable.

Another travel agency making the list is Cruise Planners.

Premium Tool Sales

The next few spots on Entrepreneur.com’s list include premium tool retailers Snap-on Tools, Matco Tools, and Mac Tools. All three companies offer discounts on initial inventory so veterans can get the business started on the right foot.

Auto Repair

Entrepreneur.com says companies like Precision Tune Auto Care and Grease Monkey are ideal for veterans, especially ones that worked in a mechanic role while serving. Both companies offer discounts on franchise fees for veterans as well as reduced royalties for the first few years in business.

Restaurants/Food Services

Also making the list, several restaurants and other food providers. Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen offers veterans 50 percent off the franchise fee and a reduced royalty for the first year. Meanwhile, Baskin-Robbins will waive the fee for the first franchise and offer a reduced royalty fee for the first five years.

Gyms

Another industry making the top 25 on Entrepreneur.com’s list, athletic gyms. Anytime Fitness offers a discounted franchise fee to veterans, while Crunch Fitness offers 20 percent off franchise fees and royalties when you purchase three or more gyms.

Getting a Veteran Run Franchise Started

Starting a franchise is much more than just determining that you want to start a franchise. U.S. Veterans Magazine has an article about what you need to think about and consider as you’re contemplating starting a franchise as well as some questions that you need to ask yourself and your family.

Funding a Veteran Run Franchise

You’ll also need to think about funding. Unless you’re independently wealthy, odds are you’ll need some financing help to get your business off the ground.

The Small Business Administration offers guaranteed loans for veterans and training to help new small business owners get started. You can find out more about those resources here.

There are also special funding options for disabled veterans through the Small Business Administration.

Organizations like StreetShares Foundation offer support to veterans starting their own businesses, while the Hivers and Strivers Angel Fund is specifically aimed at helping military academy graduates get their small businesses off the ground.

Voting Rights for Felons – Where Each State Stands Heading into the 2020 Presidential Election

As the vote for the next President of the United States nears, the disenfranchisement of America’s felons is once again making headlines.

According to NBC News, 6.1 million Americans were unable to vote in 2016—the last time Americans elected a president—even though they had served their time and were now free from prison. This spotlight on disenfranchised felons prompted multiple states to reassess their voting laws in the past four years and consider reinstating the voting rights of felons.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has a great in-depth breakdown of how each state distributes its voting rights to ex-felons, but you can also read below for more details.

States where felons never lose their voting rights

In two states, Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their voting rights. That means even from prison, felons are allowed to vote.

States that automatically restore a felon’s right to vote after release

16 states and the District of Columbia will automatically restore a felon’s right to vote once they are released from prison, these states are:

  • Colorado
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Maryland*
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Utah

*In Maryland, there is an exception. Anyone who is convicted of buying or selling votes will not receive his/her right to vote back unless he/she is pardoned by the state’s governor.

Lost until parole and/or probation is complete

In 21 states, felons receive their voting rights back only after they complete their parole and/or probation; they are:

  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • California**
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York***
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

**In 2016, legislators in the state of California voted to allow inmates in county jails the ability to vote. Felons in state or federal prison must still wait until their parole and/or probation is complete before their ability to vote is restored.

***In New York the Attorney General’s website says that felons must still wait until their parole has expired, they have been pardoned or their maximum sentence has expired. According to the Brennan Center, in 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo started using his pardon power to give felons released from prison the right to vote.

All other states

In the rest of the states, a felon’s voting rights are lost until the sentence is complete. In some cases, there is also a waiting period after the completion of the sentence. Some of the states are trying to adjust their laws to allow some felons voting rights, but the changes vary from state to state.

Alabama

In Alabama, whether or not a felon is allowed to vote after release depends on the crime for which he/she was convicted. For example, felons who have committed dangerous crimes like murder or rape cannot vote unless they receive a full pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Alabama has always required felons who have committed crimes of moral turpitude to re-apply for the right to vote. However, until 2017, the state did not define what was considered moral turpitude and what was not. The state has now defined the 47 crimes that are considered crimes of moral turpitude.

Felons who have committed any other crimes will automatically have their voting rights restored when they are released from prison and simply need to re-register to vote.

 

The ACLU of Alabama has more details on Alabama’s voting laws regarding felons.

Arizona

According to the ACLU in Arizona, Arizona will automatically restore the voting rights of a first-time offender, provided the offender completes probation and pays any owed fines or restitution. Felons who have committed two or more felonies may also receive their voting rights back, but there are more requirements that they will have to meet before those rights are restored.

Delaware

According to the website Nonprofit Vote, most felons in Delaware automatically receive their voting rights back after they complete their sentence, parole, and probation. People who commit murder, bribery or a sex offense permanently lose their voting rights.

Florida

The court system is currently fighting over what is required to allow felons released from prison the right to vote. Last year, the legislature passed a bill that would require felons to pay off all court fees and fines before their sentence was considered complete. They would not receive their voting rights back until the sentence was complete. However, critics took the bill to court calling it a “poll tax”. In October, a U.S. District judge placed a preliminary injunction on the bill. (Source: NBC News)

As of now, felons who have served their sentence can vote if all court fees and fines are paid, but that could change if the judge’s ruling is challenged.

Iowa

In Iowa, anyone convicted of a felony permanently loses the right to vote or hold public office unless they apply for and are granted the restoration of their voting rights. The state’s governor is currently working to change the state constitution to allow felons the right to vote once they have been released from prison but has so far been unsuccessful.

Kentucky

According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, anyone who has been convicted of a felony loses the right to vote or hold public office. They can apply to have their civil rights restored with the Governor of Kentucky if they have their Final Discharge papers from parole or their sentence has expired. Applicants cannot be under felony indictment, have pending charges or owe any fines or restitution.

Mississippi

A federal court is currently deciding whether some felons within the state will receive their right to vote back. According to the Associated Press, the state currently bans people convicted of 22 crimes including murder, forgery, bigamy, timber larceny and carjacking from voting after they are released. To have the rights restored, each felon must get a pardon from the governor or ask the state legislature to pass a bill that restores their right to vote.

If an individual has not committed one of the 22 offenses listed by the state of Mississippi, they will automatically have their voting rights restored.

Nebraska

There is a two-year waiting period in Nebraska before a felon who has completed his/her sentence is allowed to vote. (Source: Nebraska State Legislature)

Tennessee

According to Tennessee’s Secretary of State’s website, a felon can receive his/her voting rights back if his/her record is expunged by the governor or if the state agrees to restore his/her voting rights. A felon must apply to have his/her voting rights restored.

Felons who have committed what’s called an “infamous crime” may never receive their right to vote back. The Secretary of State of Tennessee’s website has a list of those crimes.

Virginia

The state of Virginia will not allow felons to vote unless the Governor or another appropriate authority reinstate the right to vote to that specific individual. In 2016, then-Governor Terry McAuliffe tried to implement an executive order that would automatically restore the voting rights of felons who had completed their prison sentence and terms of parole or probation, but that was blocked by the Virginia Supreme Court.

As a result, WAMU reports that McAuliffe personally signed off on the voting rights of 173,000 felons during his tenure. His successor, Governor Ralph Northam has signed off on more than 22,000 more since taking office.

Wyoming

According to the Wyoming Department of Corrections, anyone who is a first-time, nonviolent felon can automatically have their voting rights restored if they completed their supervision or they were discharged after January 1, 2010. Anyone who completed their sentence before January 1, 2010, must apply for the restoration of the right to vote.

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