Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC)
Supports Maryland employers creating qualifying new jobs with income tax credits for workforce expansion.
Eligibility · United States · US-MD
The Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC), administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, provides Maryland income tax credits to businesses that create qualifying new full-time jobs in Maryland. The base credit is $3,000 per qualifying job, rising to $5,000 per job created in designated revitalization areas. Veteran positions earn $4,000 per job ($6,000 in revitalization areas), while small businesses may claim $2,500 per qualified veteran position up to a maximum of five per year. The program is capped at $4 million annually and awards on a first-come, first-served basis. The statutory sunset is January 1, 2027.
To be eligible, a business must declare intent to Maryland Commerce before hiring qualifying employees. Minimum job creation thresholds apply: 60 new full-time positions statewide, 25 positions in Priority Funding Areas, or 10 positions in designated qualifying counties. Positions must be full-time (at least 840 hours over 24 weeks within any 6-month period) and held for 12 months before the final application is filed. For positions filled after October 1, 2021, each job must pay at least 150% of the Maryland state minimum wage — currently $22.50 per hour as of January 1, 2025 — or the applicable prevailing wage rate, and must include health insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, workers' compensation, and unemployment insurance.
The application process runs in three steps: first, the employer submits a Notice of Intent Form to Commerce before hiring begins; second, a Preliminary Application and Employment Affidavit is filed after hiring; and third, a Final Application is submitted after employees have completed 12 months of qualifying employment. Credits are certified on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis throughout the year up to the $4 million annual cap. Contact: Caroline Kimani, Tax Specialist, 410-767-0939.
Maryland income tax credits of $3,000–$6,000 per qualifying new full-time job created in the state, available to businesses on a first-come, first-served basis through January 2027.
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