Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Health reform legislation signed by President Obama includes a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to help small businesses afford the cost of covering their workers. See how the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit might affect four hypothetical small businesses.

Key Facts About the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

• The tax credit, which is effective immediately, can cover up to 50 percent of the premiums a small business pays to cover its workers.
• Both small for-profit businesses and small not-for-profit organizations are eligible.

Key Elements

• Broad Eligibility. Qualifying firms must have less than the equivalent of 25 full-time workers (e.g., a firm with fewer than 50 half-time workers would be eligible), pay average annual wages below $50,000, and cover at least 50 percent of the cost of health care coverage for their workers.
• Substantial Benefit. The credit is worth up to 50 percent of a small business’s premium costs in 2010.
• Non-Profits Eligible. Tax-exempt organizations are eligible for a 35 percent tax credit. (The credit rates are lower for non-profits to ensure that the value of the credit is approximately equal to that provided to for-profit firms that cannot claim a tax deduction for the amount of the credit claimed.)
• Phase-Outs. The credit phases out gradually for firms with average wages between $25,000 and $50,000 and for firms with the equivalent of between 10 and 25 full-time workers.
• Premium Cost Eligibility. To avoid an incentive to choose a high-cost plan, an employer’s eligible contribution is limited to the average cost of health insurance in that state.