Gov’t sends out another $39.4M to employers that retained workers post-hurricanes
The government sent out another $39.4 million to 1,294 employers who requested Employee Retention Tax Credit program after the impact of Hurricanes Irma and María last year.
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said the
new allocation pushes the total amount paid out to $414.4 million from June
2018 to 16,676 employers who retained 415,921 employees after the passage of the
hurricanes, despite having inoperant businesses.
“We continue to support
all employers who continued to pay salaries to their employees after the
devastation left by hurricanes Irma and María in Puerto Rico in 2017. With this
benefit we’re contributing to the recovery of our businesses that, despite
their personal situation, supported their employees,” Rosselló said.
Earlier this year, the governor
announced the extension of the deadline to apply for the Employee Retention Tax
Credit program until Mar. 31, 2019. The deadline date for filing claims was
also extended until April 30, 2019.
For its part, the government’s Chief
Financial Officer, Raúl Maldonado said “the economic development of local
businesses is extremely important to our government for job creation and
contribution to the community.”
“We urge all employers in
Puerto Rico to apply for this federal benefit because it has a positive impact
on the island,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Acting Treasury Secretary
Francisco Pares said the application and the benefit claim must be filed
electronically on the department’s sitio web.
“We will continue identifying
benefits and relief to boost their businesses. Employers can receive up to $1,920
per eligible employee. It is vital that those who have not applied for this
benefit, do so within the new deadlines,” he said.
