Renewing a tax credit provider can easily become an automatic decision. If the process is running and reports are being delivered, it may seem like there is little reason to revisit the relationship.
But tax credit programs, technology, hiring patterns, and business needs change. Your expectations of a provider should evolve with them.
Before renewing, take the opportunity to look beyond whether your tax credit program is simply operating. Ask whether your provider is giving you the visibility, support, and expertise you need to feel confident in the process.
1. How Effectively Is Our Current Process Capturing Eligible Opportunities?
Knowing the amount of tax credits generated is useful, but it does not tell the entire story.
Ask your provider how they evaluate the effectiveness of your process. Are screenings being completed consistently? Where are applications falling out of the process? Are there workflow changes that could improve participation or reduce administrative gaps?
A strong provider should be able to discuss performance in context and identify opportunities to strengthen the process rather than simply report totals.
2. Can We Clearly See What Is Happening With Our Program?
Transparency matters.
Leadership should have useful reporting that shows what is happening throughout the tax credit process, not just a number at the end of the year. Ask what reporting is available, what your team can track, and whether the information provides enough visibility to make informed decisions.
If you have questions about a report, your provider should also be able to explain what the numbers mean.
3. Does the Process Work With Our Current Technology and Hiring Workflow?
Staffing technology continues to evolve, and your tax credit process should work within the systems your team already uses whenever possible.
Consider whether your current solution integrates effectively with your hiring technology and whether screening fits naturally into onboarding. The easier the process is for recruiters, candidates, and internal teams to follow, the easier it becomes to maintain consistency as hiring volume changes.
4. What Other Tax Credit Programs Should We Be Reviewing?
WOTC may be one of the most familiar employer tax credits, but it is not the only program available.
Federal, state, and local incentives can change, and eligibility may look different as your organization expands into new markets or changes its hiring activity.
Ask whether your provider is actively evaluating additional programs that may be relevant to your organization. Tax credit support should include looking at the broader picture, not simply administering the same program year after year.
5. How Involved Is Our Provider After Implementation?
Technology can make tax credit administration more efficient, but employers still need knowledgeable people behind the process.
Consider how easy it is to reach your provider when you have a question. Do they proactively communicate important program changes? Will they review your process with you? Do they understand your business well enough to provide meaningful recommendations?
The quality of the ongoing relationship matters just as much as the initial implementation.
Your Tax Credit Provider Should Be More Than a Processor
A renewal is an opportunity to make sure your tax credit program still has the right technology, process, visibility, and people behind it.
For more than 20 years, MJA & Associates has helped staffing firms and employers manage federal and state tax credit programs through a personalized, consultative approach. We provide hands-on support, technology integration, detailed reporting, and ongoing guidance while continuing to identify tax credit programs that may be relevant to our clients.
Our contingency-based model also means our fees are tied to the tax credits generated through our services.
If your provider renewal is approaching, contact MJA & Associates. We would be happy to review your current tax credit process, answer your questions, and show you what a more hands-on partnership can look like.
