Maryland Tax Incentives
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Maryland Tax Incentives
- Apprenticeships and Training
- Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED)
- Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
- Employment Opportunity Tax Credit
- Job Creation Tax Credit
- Maryland Business Works
- Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit (MDETC)
- Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF)
- Maryland’s Enterprise Zone Tax Credit
- Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MD TAP)
- One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit
Apprenticeships and Training
Apprenticeship is a voluntary, industry-driven program which is sponsored by employers, employer associations, and jointly by management and labor. An apprentice, as an employee, receives supervised, structured, on-the-job training combined with related technical instruction in a specific occupation.
The person hired as the apprentice could be someone with a disability who needs specialized on-the-job training to obtain employment.
Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED)
The Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) mission is to create, attract and retain jobs while promoting Maryland’s economy.
Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
The web sites listed below contain information on the services offered to Maryland employers who employ people with disabilities. Some of these services are: pre-screening job applicants, specialized job training, providing Assistive Technology for disabled employees and consultation on tax credit information.
Division of Rehabilitation Services for Employers
Employment Opportunity Tax Credit - A Maryland State Tax Credit for Employers
The Employment Opportunity Tax Credit is a two-year Maryland State tax credit that is available to employers for wages paid and childcare expenses incurred by employers for Maryland residents who are recipients of benefits through the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program.
Many unemployed persons with disabilities are recipients of government assistance program like TCA. Maryland businesses can benefit from this tax credit by hiring people with disabilities who are recipients of this program.
Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit
Businesses operating or conducting business in Maryland that hire certain workers for newly-created or vacant positions in the State may be entitled to a job creation tax credit. The amount of the tax credit is based on the number of employees hired and the number of months that they were employed during the tax credit period.
This tax credit can be an incentive to Maryland businesses to employ more workers with disabilities.
Maryland Business Works
Maryland Business Works is a state program to support existing Maryland businesses in the retention and growth of their workforce by upgrading workers’ occupational skill levels. Under this program, $1 million of incentive grant funds awarded to Maryland under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) earmarked for training incumbent workers.
The employees who receive this training through this program can be individuals with disabilities. Often, job training or a skill upgrade is needed for someone with a disability to maintain employment.
Maryland Business Works application - MS Word document.
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce is Maryland’s leading statewide business advocacy organization. The Mission of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce is to maximize opportunities for its members and their employees to grow and prosper.
Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit (MDETC)
The Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit (MDETC) encourages employers to hire qualified people with disabilities. It allows a credit of an amount equal to 30% of up to the first $6,000 ($1,800) of wages paid during the first year and 20% of up to the first $6,000 ($1,200) of wages paid during the second year of employment.
Under the MDETC, there is also a tax credit for employer-paid child care or transportation expenses. This amounts to a credit of up to $600 of expenses during the first year and up to $500 for the second year.
This tax credit can be used as an incentive for Maryland businesses to hire and create new jobs for people with disabilities and help end the devastating trend of unemployment amongst this group of citizens.
Spotlight on Maryland Taxes - Maryland Disability Employment Tax Credit
Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF)
There are five financing capabilities offered through the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund (MEDAAF), with assistance being provided to the business community and political jurisdictions. To qualify for assistance from MEDAAF, applicants are restricted to businesses located within a priority funding area and an eligible industry sector. With a few exceptions, assistance cannot exceed 70 percent of the total project costs.
Financial assistance from this program can be used to purchase ADA compliant property or renovate property making it more accessible to employees with disabilities.
Maryland’s Enterprise Zone Tax Credit
Businesses located in a Maryland enterprise zone may be entitled to an Enterprise Zone Tax Credit for wages paid to newly hired employees.
Very often, people with disabilities live in areas that are depressed and in need of revitalization. Hiring disabled individuals from these zones would reverse the unemployment trend among this population and give their neighborhoods a much needed lift.
Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MD TAP)
The Maryland Technology Assistance Program web site furnishes information on Assistive Technology devices and services for people with disabilities. This site also includes information and resources to help people with disabilities live independent, full lives.
Assistive technology is any device that enables a person with a disability to be more functional. A good example of Assistive Technology in the workplace is a voice recognition system for the computer. By recognizing the user’s voice, this device will type whatever is said into its microphone. With this technology, the employee uses the computer much faster because he/she doesn’t use a keyboard to operate it. Because of the increased productivity, it is wise for an employer to invest in Assistive Technology for disabled employees.
One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit
Businesses that establish or expand a business facility in a priority funding area or as part of a project approved by the Board of Public Works, and that are located in a "distressed" Maryland county, may be entitled to a One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit for costs related to the new or expanded facility.
A "distressed" county has an average rate of unemployment that is 150 percent higher than the statewide average or an average per-capita personal income that is equal to or less than 67 percent of the statewide average, and includes a county (including Baltimore City) that no longer meets one of these requirements, but did so at some time during the preceding 12-months.
Frequently, unemployed people with disabilities live in areas that are labeled “distressed”. Hiring disabled individuals from these counties would reverse the staggering unemployment rate often experienced by this population.
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