Target group determination
Each hire is classified against all nine target groups (veterans, SNAP, TANF, SSI, ex-felons, vocational rehab, empowerment zone, long-term unemployment, designated community youth) using documented evidence.
The most rigorous WOTC capture pack an employer can use.
The Capture Engine assembles a documentation-complete certification pack — pre-screening, target-group determination, IRS Form 8850, ETA 9061, SWA filing, and certification tracking — checked against the letter of 26 U.S.C. §51 and IRS guidance before a specialist releases it.
Every target group under 26 U.S.C. §51Multi-channel screening (SMS, web, IVR)28-day filing window, gate-checkedSpecialist release on every pack5-business-day SLA
Why credits are lost
A single missed deadline can forfeit thousands in credits.
Every year, U.S. employers hire tens of millions of people, and roughly one in six belongs to a WOTC target group — a veteran, a SNAP or TANF recipient, an empowerment zone resident, or a formerly incarcerated person. Each qualifying hire is worth $1,200 to $9,600 in federal tax credits, with no cap on the number of hires an employer can claim.
Yet most of the credit that could be captured never is — because capture depends entirely on operational execution that most HR teams cannot sustain. Manual programs certify only 40–60% of eligible hires, and missing the 28-day filing deadline is the single most common way employers forfeit earned credits.
The Capture Engine exists to close that gap with a single, exhaustive standard applied identically to every hire.
40–60%
certification rate for manual programs vs. 90%+ with automated screening
The benchmark
Measured against the letter of the statute — target group by target group.
We do not summarize the law and hope. Every pack is scored against a versioned rule pack tied to the exact text of 26 U.S.C. §51 and current IRS/ETA guidance. These are the provisions each pack is held to.
28-day filing window
The filing date is verified to fall no later than 28 calendar days after the hire's start date, computed deterministically — never estimated.
Supporting documentation
For each target group, the required documentation (DD-214, benefit letters, referral letters, address verification) is collected and validated.
Rehire and related-party exclusions
Hires who previously worked for the employer or are related parties are screened out per statutory exclusions.
Long-term unemployment recipients
For hires claiming long-term unemployment, the period of unemployment is verified against state records or employer attestation.
Empowerment zone residency
Residency in a designated empowerment zone, enterprise community, or renewal community is verified using HUD and Census data.
How a pack is built
Intake to specialist release, with deterministic gates the AI cannot overrule.
AI extracts and drafts. Deterministic rules — running as code, outside the model — decide what is complete. A human specialist signs every release. That order is never reversed.
01
Capture Scan
Upload your new-hire roster and we return a free completeness read: which hires likely qualify, which target groups, and what documentation is missing.
02
Multi-channel screening
We deploy conversational screening via SMS, web, IVR, or kiosk — in multiple languages — to complete the pre-screening questionnaire for every hire.
03
Target-group determination
Using the published rulebook, we classify each hire into target groups and request supporting documents (DD-214, benefit letters, etc.).
04
Form assembly & filing
IRS Form 8850 and ETA 9061/9062 are assembled with correct characteristics and e-filed to the correct State Workforce Agency within the 28-day window.
05
Specialist release
A credentialed WOTC reviewer adjudicates ambiguous determinations and signs the batch. High-value or complex cases route to attorney review first.
06
Delivery
You receive the pack: certification tracking, credit realization schedule, and return-ready documentation for your CPA to claim the credit on Form 5884.
The bar we hold
Rigor you can measure.
100%
Specialist-released
No pack ships without a human signature.
5 days
Standard SLA
From complete intake to released pack.
<1%
Critical-defect target
Tracked against a gold-standard pack library.
90%+
Certification rate target
For eligible hires, versus 40–60% manual.
Why the Capture Engine
Built to be the most thorough option an employer has.
Documentation-complete, by design
The deliverable is completeness itself — every statutory element and document accounted for or explicitly exception-coded. Nothing is left implicit.
Deterministic, not vibes
The gates that decide completeness are code, not a model's opinion. A drafting error cannot slip past a statutory requirement.
In its lane, on purpose
We prepare documentation and file forms as your clerical agent. We never provide legal advice, and your CPA claims the credit.
Engagement
Flat fee, per released pack. No contingency, ever.
Simple, predictable, and aligned with a documentation standard — not a cut of any credit.
- A free Capture Scan before you commit — see exactly which hires qualify and what is missing.
- One flat fee per released Certification Capture Pack; disclosed pass-through search fees.
- Optional fixed-fee attorney review for complex target-group determinations.
- Optional Retroactive Filing Add-on for hires within the 28-day window but not yet screened.
FAQ
Questions, answered precisely.
Is the Capture Engine a law firm?
No. The Capture Engine, a service of Your Deputy, Obuke LLC, provides documentation-completeness services. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not represent you in any legal matter. Attorney review is available and recommended for complex determinations.
Do you claim the credit on my tax return?
No. We prepare and file the certification forms (8850, 9061) with the State Workforce Agency. Your CPA or tax professional claims the credit on your federal tax return using Form 5884.
What makes a pack 'complete'?
Completeness is defined by the statute: target-group determination with supporting documentation, Form 8850 and 9061 assembled correctly, filed within 28 days, and certification tracked. Deterministic gates enforce each one before release.
How fast is it?
The standard SLA is five business days from complete intake to a specialist-released pack. The free Capture Scan is returned much sooner and tells you exactly which hires qualify.
How are you priced?
A flat fee per released pack, plus disclosed pass-through search costs. No contingency and no percentage of any credit amount.
See which hires qualify before the window closes.
Start with a free Capture Scan. Send your new-hire roster and we'll return a completeness read against every target group under 26 U.S.C. §51.
Documentation-completeness service · not legal advice · your CPA claims the credit.