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Smart ERC Review

Smart ERC
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Michael Graw
Nov. 07, 2023
3 min read
Michael Graw
Smart ERC Summary
Smart ERC is a tax firm that specializes in helping businesses claim the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) from the IRS. It has former IRS agents on its staff to speed up the filing process and maximize your credit. You can find out if you qualify through a quick phone call, and you only pay for Smart ERC’s service after you receive your ERC check. Smart ERC also offers bridge loans for up to 60% of the value of your anticipated ERC refund.

Pros

  • Has former IRS agents on staff
  • Only pay after you receive your ERC check
  • Offers bridge loans of up to 60% of your anticipated ERC refund

Cons

  • Cannot pre-qualify online
  • Limited information about pricing

Smart ERC at a glance

9.6
Editorial score

Online experience

Good online resources, but no mobile app
8.0

Customer services and support

Award winning
10.0

Variety of loan types

ERC refund, bridge loans
10.0

Loan amount range

Bridge loan of up to 60% of your anticipated ERC refund
10.0

Eligibility

Small businesses that were impacted by Covid-19 but retained employees
10.0

Smart ERC Smart ERC Visit Site

Overview

Smart ERC is a California-based tax firm that helps small businesses claim their ERC refund from the IRS. Its expert staff understand the complex ERC application and can help your business claim the maximum possible refund.

Smart ERC doesn’t charge anything to determine if you qualify for the ERC, and you only pay for the company’s help after you receive your ERC refund. If you need funds to operate your business while waiting for your ERC check, Smart ERC can issue a bridge loan.

Why Smart ERC Is Good For Your Business

Smart ERC cuts through the complexity of the ERC refund application to help you get the largest possible refund for your business as quickly as possible. The company has many former IRS agents on staff with a comprehensive knowledge of the application requirements. Smart ERC can therefore accomplish far more than a typical small business accountant working alone.

A major benefit to Smart ERC is that you don’t have to pay the company anything until you receive your ERC refund check. So, using Smart ERC to file your ERC application won’t have an impact on your business’s cash flow.

Smart ERC can also help your business by giving you immediate access to your ERC refund with a bridge loan of up to 60% of your anticipated refund. You can use that money for whatever you want, making Smart ERC an excellent option if cash flow is tight or if you want to make a major investment in your business sooner rather than later.

Loan Features

The ERC is not a loan, but rather a refundable tax credit. Unlike a loan, you don’t need to pay it back. It’s money that you can use for anything, including payroll or capital investments in your business.

It can take up to two months to receive your ERC refund after filing. If your business needs cash in the meantime, Smart ERC can issue a bridge loan. The maximum loan amount is up to 60% of the value of your anticipated ERC refund.

  • ERC refund does not need to be repaid
  • Bridge loans with up to 60% loan-to-value ratio

Application Process

The ERC program is available to businesses that were impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns but didn’t lay off all of their employees. It includes businesses that:

  • Reduced operations in 2020 or 2021
  • Lost revenue in at least one quarter of 2020 or 2021 (relative to 2019)
  • Launched after February 15, 2020, and had revenue of less than $1 million in 2020 or 2021.

You can get started with Smart ERC by filling out a brief application form on the company’s website or calling a tax agent. If you fill out the application form, a tax agent will contact you by phone within 24 hours.

You’ll need to tell the agent about your business, including your revenue and how many employees you had in 2020 and 2021. The agent will estimate your potential refund and detail the documents that you need to submit for your application.

If you decide to go ahead with Smart ERC, you’ll sign an engagement letter that includes pricing information. Smart ERC will then file your ERC refund application using the documentation you provide.

Once you’ve filed your application, it typically takes the IRS six to eight weeks to issue your refund. You only pay Smart ERC for the firm’s services after your refund arrives.

How Much Can You Get? 

The ERC offers up to $26,000 per full-time W-2 employee your business had in 2020 and 2021. The maximum number of employees you can claim for is 500, for a maximum refund of $13 million.

You can use a calculator on Smart ERC’s website to determine the potential ERC refund for which your business will qualify.

Repayment Terms

You don’t need to repay the ERC refund since it is a tax credit, not a loan. However, you’ll need to pay Smart ERC’s fee out of your refund check. This will be based on a percentage of your refund.

If you take out a bridge loan from Smart ERC, you’ll begin paying interest on your loan immediately. You’ll repay the loan principal once your refund check arrives. Smart ERC doesn’t advertise its interest rates for bridge loans.

How Safe Is It?

Smart ERC has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Since you don’t have to pay the company anything until after you receive your ERC refund, there’s no financial risk to using Smart ERC.

Smart ERC secures its website with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. You can also call the company if you don’t want to submit your contact information through the online application.

Help and Support

Smart ERC offers 24/7 phone and email support. The company’s website also has an FAQs page that answers questions about who qualifies for the ERC and how much of a refund you can get.

Phone: 866-201-3262

Email: info@smarterc.com

Summary

Smart ERC offers access to former IRS agents who can help you maximize your business’s ERC refund. The company is upfront about how much you could potentially receive and even offers bridge loans for businesses that need cash right away. What’s more, you won’t have to pay for Smart ERC’s services until your ERC check arrives.

Overall, Smart ERC is a great choice for small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and want to get the largest possible ERC refund.

Physical Address

Smart ERC, 350 N Lantana St. Suite #229 Camarillo, CA 93010

Smart ERC Smart ERC Visit Site

Methodology

This review was created with information from the Smart ERC website and the Better Business Bureau.


Michael Graw
Written by
Michael Graw
Michael Graw is a Bellingham, Washington-based writer focusing on finance, tech, and science. His work has been featured in print magazines and high-impact websites. He writes for BestMoney and enjoys helping readers make sense of the options on the market.‎
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