HIRE CREDIT Act

This bill, known as the HIRE CREDIT Act, seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by expanding the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). Its primary purpose is to incentivize employers to hire individuals who have been severely impacted by major disasters. By adding "displaced disaster victims" as a new target group, the legislation aims to support economic recovery and re-employment efforts in communities recovering from emergencies. A displaced disaster victim is specifically defined as an individual whose primary residence and workplace within a qualified disaster zone were rendered uninhabitable or inoperable due to a major disaster, and who is currently unemployed. To qualify for the credit, the individual must be hired within one year following the disaster's incident period, and the credit generally excludes full-time employment outside the qualified disaster zone. This expansion applies to individuals beginning work on or after January 1, 2024, with specific transition rules for earlier disasters.