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H.R. 7072House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Reserve Component Employer Incentive, Compensation, and Relief Act of 2018

Sponsored by Timothy J. WalzRep. Timothy J. Walz (D-MN)
Introduced October 16, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 16, 2026 at 12:08 AM UTC

The Reserve Component Employer Incentive, Compensation, and Relief Act of 2018 changes the tax code to give employers a credit for hiring members of the National Guard or military reserves. The credit is calculated for each qualifying reservist an employer has during the year and is meant to offset the cost of their wages. It applies to wages paid after December 31, 2018, and can be claimed as part of the general business credit.

Key Provisions

  • Employers receive a reservist employment credit equal to $1,000 plus an additional amount based on how many days the reservist served that year: $3,000 for 30‑89 days, $5,000 for 90‑179 days, and $10,000 for 180 days or more.
  • The credit is added to the existing general business credit under Section 38 of the Internal Revenue Code and can be used to reduce regular tax and the alternative minimum tax.
  • Employers may elect each year to opt out of claiming the credit, and rules prevent the credit from being combined with other similar tax benefits.
  • The credit applies only to reservists who are members of the National Guard or reserve components (excluding the Individual Ready Reserve) and only for days of service that occur while the person is employed by the eligible employer.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

October 16, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 16, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

October 16, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 16, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7072

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 16, 2018

Mr. Walz (for himself, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, and Mr. Palazzo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow for a credit against tax for employers of reservists.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reserve Component Employer Incentive, Compensation, and Relief Act of 2018.

2.

Reservist employment credit

(a)

In general

(1)

Allowance of credit

Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

45T.

Reservist employment credit

(a)

Establishment of credit

For purposes of section 38, in the case of an eligible employer, the reservist employment credit for a taxable year is an amount equal to the sum of the reservist credit amount for each qualified reservist employed by such employer at any time during such taxable year.

(b)

Reservist credit amount

For purposes of this section—

(1)

In general

The term reservist credit amount means, with respect to a qualified reservist for a taxable year, an amount equal to the sum of—

(A)

$1,000, plus

(B)

in the case of a qualified reservist—

(i)

with 30 or more days, and fewer than 90 days, of service in the uniformed services during such year, $3,000,

(ii)

with 90 or more days, and fewer than 180 days, of service in the uniformed services during such year, $5,000, and

(iii)

with 180 or more days of service in the uniformed services during such year, $10,000.

(2)

Days of service

For purposes of paragraph (1), days of service shall only be taken into account with respect to a qualified reservist employed by an eligible employer to the extent such days are during a period of employment of such reservist by such employer.

(3)

Qualified reservist

The term qualified reservist means, with respect to a taxable year, an individual who is, at any time during such taxable year, a member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces, as named in section 10101 of title 10, United States Code (except for a member of the Individual Ready Reserve).

(4)

Other definitions

The terms reserve component, active service, full-time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, and inactive-duty training have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. The term National Guard has the meaning given such term in section 101(3) of title 32, United States Code. The term service in the uniformed services has the meaning given such term in section 4303 of title 38, United States Code.

(c)

Election To have credit not apply

(1)

In general

A taxpayer may elect to have this section not apply for any taxable year.

(2)

Other rules

Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 51(j) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.

.

(b)

Credit part of general business credit

Section 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking plus at the end of paragraph (36), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (37) and inserting , plus, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(38)

in the case of an eligible employer (as defined in section 45S(c)), the reservist employment credit determined under section 45T(a).

.

(c)

Credit allowed against AMT

Subparagraph (B) of section 38(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating clauses (x) through (xii) as clauses (xi) through (xiii), respectively, and by inserting after clause (ix) the following new clause:

(x)

the credit determined under section 45T,

.

(d)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Denial of double benefit

Section 280C(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting 45T(a), after 45S(a),.

(2)

Election To have credit not apply

Section 6501(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting 45T(d), after 45S(h),.

(3)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

Sec. 45T. Reservist employment credit.

.

(e)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to wages paid in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018.