FICA Tip Credit, Filed Right. From Start to Finish.
The only end-to-end FICA Tip Credit platform that handles eligibility, calculations, filing and audit support in one compliant workflow.
At Anchor Accounting Services, we don’t just calculate your tax credit; we help you unlock it faster, file it smarter and defend it with confidence.
IRS data shows tens of billions of dollars in tips are reported on W-2s each year, which means there’s also a massive pool of payroll tax exposure most eligible employers never recover. Anchor delivers a secure, tech-enabled platform that handles the heavy lifting for you, end to end.
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The only technology-first filing platform for the FICA Tip Credit
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Optional refund advance through our proprietary treasury services
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IRS audit defense included on every claim, no extra charge
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No upfront cost to check your eligibility or start your claim
4.2 million words, 17,000 pages of regulations to wade through in the U.S. tax code (Source: NTU.org)
Simplify the complex.
Over 6 billion hours spent filing taxes each year (Source: NTU.org)
Take back your time.
More than $11 billion in unclaimed tax credits annually (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago).
Discover long-term value.
What is the FICA Tip Credit?
Our full-service FICA Tip Credit program helps you unlock cash flow, stay IRS compliant and turn payroll taxes into a financial advantage. It includes audit defense, tax preparation support, credit tracking and optional refund advance options to keep your business moving.
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Check Eligibility
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Upload Documents
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Get Paid
What is the FICA Tip Credit?
The FICA Tip Credit, authorized under IRC §45B, lets eligible businesses recover the 6.2% Social Security tax they pay on employee-reported tips (on the portion above minimum wage). It’s claimed on IRS Form 8846 and is tailor-made for food and beverage. In a $1.5T industry spanning 1M+ locations and 15.9M jobs, recovering your share can make a real margin impact.*
Before this credit existed, only about 15% of tips were even reported. Now, it not only promotes transparency but gives employers like you a chance to recover thousands in overpaid payroll taxes, without changing how you operate.
Why Anchor Accounting Services?
Anyone can explain the tax code. Anchor makes it work for you with a tech-enabled, end-to-end FICA Tip Credit solution.
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Tax Credit Filing
We do the heavy lifting. From tip data to IRS paperwork, we calculate your potential savings, prepare all documents and file on your behalf.
Transparent Pricing
No upfront cost to check eligibility. Fees are only charged when your credit is filed and always clearly explained before you sign.
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Tax Prep Support
We work well with your CPA. Our team works alongside your accountant (or internal bookkeeper) to ensure that your records are clean, accurate and IRS-ready.
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IRS Audit Defense Included
If the IRS comes knocking, we answer. Get full audit response support, including documentation compliance checks and peace of mind.
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Advance on Tax Refunds
Through our treasury partner Rubix, eligible businesses can receive funds in advance of IRS processing.
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Audit Defense Backed by Harbor Shield
Every FICA Tip Credit filing through Anchor Accounting Services includes built-in audit defense protection delivered through Harbor Shield, the nation’s first RegTech-backed audit guarantee platform.
Harbor Shield’s FICA Audit Defense provides contractual guarantees covering up to $50,000 in attorney-led defense costs per quarter, per occurrence, ensuring businesses and their CPAs are protected if the IRS questions their filings. Coverage activates automatically with every filing; no separate enrollment
Designed for businesses like yours. Delivered by a team that knows your industry.
Claiming the FICA Tip Credit doesn’t have to be confusing. At Anchor, we’ve built a system that makes it easy for tip-reliant businesses to get the tax relief they’ve already earned with no upfront cost or disruption to how you operate.
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You operate in the food & beverage industry
This tax credit is designed for businesses where tipping is customary, including:
Restaurants, cafés and coffee shops
Bars, breweries and wineries
Hotels, resorts and casinos
Food trucks, catering companies and event venues
Any business where food or drinks are served and tips are collected
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Your employees earn tips
You must have employees who:
Regularly receive tips from customers
Report those tips as part of their wages through payroll
Are classified as W-2 employees (not contractors)
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You pay FICA taxes on those tips
That includes:
Social Security and Medicare taxes (typically part of your payroll tax responsibilities)
These taxes must have been reported on your quarterly Form 941s
If that sounds like your business, you’re likely eligible for a FICA Tip Credit. We’ll verify your eligibility in minutes with a quick pre-qualification.
Start My Free PrequalificationOBBBA expanded eligibility, and guidance is still evolving.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025) expanded the employer FICA Tip Credit (IRC §45B) beyond restaurants to include qualifying beauty service businesses.
If you’re a tip-based business and aren’t sure whether you qualify under the current rules, or if you want updates as guidance evolves, join the waitlist. We’ll share eligibility updates, documentation checklists and next steps as they’re released
How to claim your tax credit through Anchor Accounting Services
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Check Eligibility:
Complete a questionnaire to see if your business qualifies. No cost, no commitment.
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Create Your Profile:
Set up your secure account in our portal to begin your application and ensure your information is safely stored.
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Add Your Business Details:
Tell us more about your business to help us calculate your credit accurately.
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Submit Your Application:
Securely upload the documents we need to finalize your claim.
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You’re Done:
Once submitted, our team takes it from there. We’ll file with the IRS and keep you updated every step of the way.
How your FICA Tip Credit gets paid (and when we charge fees)
We know taxes can be confusing, so we make sure you're crystal clear on what you're eligible for, how you’ll get paid and when fees apply. Your FICA Tip Credit will fall into one of three categories:
Full Refund
We don’t charge anything at the time of filing
Our fee is deducted once the IRS processes your refund
Or, you can choose an optional advance through Rubix to get your funds sooner
Partial refund + partial carryforward
If your refund is large enough to cover our fee → no payment due at filing
If not, we’ll invoice you when we file the return
Full carryforward
Because there’s no refund to deduct from, we’ll invoice you at the time of filing
You can choose to finance your fees through Rubix and pay over time
Before we file anything, we’ll confirm which track applies to your business and walk you through your payment options. No surprises or hidden fees, just a clear, fair process that works for your cash flow.
Start My ApplicationInsights
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Ready to turn tips into cash flow?
You’ve already done the work, served the guests, paid the taxes and reported the tips.
Now, let our full-service FICA Tip Credit Program handle the rest. We simplify the process. You unlock the cash flow.
*Source: National Restaurant Association (2025): State of the Restaurant Industry; National Statistics.
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