Justworks Advocacy: Delivering $50 Million in Stuck ERTC Relief For Customers

At Justworks, we believe small businesses deserve a true partner. Today, I’m proud to share an update from our advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., last fall. In partnership with the IRS, Congressman Goldman (NY-10), Senator Gillibrand, and Senator Schumer, we’ve successfully secured the release of an additional $50 million in Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) funds from the IRS backlog for our customers. We are passing this on according to their specific claims today.

For many small businesses, these funds have been long overdue. The ERTC was designed to credit companies that kept their teams together during the pandemic, yet delays in processing have left thousands waiting—uncertain if they’d ever see the funds they were promised. 

Last fall, we took action. We brought seven customers to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and push for a solution that prioritized clearing low-risk ERTC claims—such as those filed by IRS-certified CPEOs like Justworks. Lawmakers agreed: combating fraud shouldn’t come at the expense of legitimate small businesses that did the right thing.

Partnership You Can Trust

Since the launch of the ERTC program, Justworks has helped facilitate over $300 million in credits for our customers. Unlike some providers who charged upfront filing fees or took a percentage of claims, we never charged our customers for access to ERTC. 

Now, as we distribute these newly released funds, we’re taking another step that sets Justworks apart: committing to pass along the value of any interest paid by the IRS on delayed claims to customers.

This is a values-driven decision for us. We believe that every dollar of government relief should go where it belongs—to the small businesses that rightfully claimed it. 

While untangling whether interest was paid on specific customer claims is more complex than reconciling their original ERTC amounts, we’re committed to doing what’s right. Our top priority has been to get these delayed funds to customers, as we are doing today. Now, our team will shift to reconciling any interest paid by the IRS and determining the simplest way to pass this value on to them.

More Work to Do

Thousands of small businesses across the country are still waiting on their ERTC claims, with over $90 million in credits for Justworks customers alone still stuck in the IRS backlog. These funds represent a critical lifeline, averaging $159,000 per customer. They employ just 12 people on average, and for some, the continued delays in receiving the ERTC funds they’re owed have put their ability to retain employees and invest in growth at risk. Too many have had to make difficult choices already that could have been avoided.

At Justworks, we know these funds aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about employee retention, investing in growth, and planning for your future with confidence. Every day that small businesses go without these funds, local economies and communities suffer. That’s why Justworks exists. To be a true partner when our customers need us most. We will keep advocating, pushing for transparency, and ensuring that small business voices are heard in Washington, D.C. 

To our customers: We’re in this together, and Justworks won’t stop until you get what you’re owed.