Delaware Veterans Opportunity Credit Has Expired

This entry exists because the benefit does not, and the state still advertises it. What the Office of Veterans Services says. Its veterans benefits page describes the Veterans Opportunity Credit in the present tense: "Employers who hire qualified veterans are eligible for a tax credit of 10 percent of the veteran's wages, up to a maximum of $1,500, for the year the veteran is hired and for the two subsequent taxable years." What the statute says. Title 30, chapter 20A defines a "qualified veteran" in section 20A-101, paragraph (4) as a Delaware resident, or a nonresident Delaware Guard member, who received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, who is honorably discharged or still in the Guard or reserves, and who "was initially hired by the qualified employer on or after January 1, 2012, and prior to January 1, 2016". Section 20A-102 allows the credit for the year of hire and the two years after. So the last credit anyone could claim was for a 2015 hire in tax year 2017. What this means. A veteran should not expect an employer to be motivated by this credit, and an employer who reads the agency page and claims it will be refused. The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit for hiring veterans is current and larger, and is the one to mention to an employer. Other Delaware employment benefits for veterans are the state merit system preference and the military status protection in the anti-discrimination laws.