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.
How Our FICA Tip Credit Platform Works
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?
Anchor makes claiming your FICA Tip Credit simple, accurate, and reliable. Our FICA tax credit specialists guide you through the process, ensuring your business recovers overpaid FICA payroll tax efficiently.
Tax Credit Filing
We handle the heavy lifting from employee tip data to IRS paperwork, calculating potential savings to maximize your employer tip credit and ensuring all documents are accurate and ready for filing.
Transparent Pricing
There’s no upfront cost to check eligibility. Fees are only applied when your FICA tip tax credit is filed. All charges are explained clearly, giving you confidence and control over your business’s tax recovery process.
Tax Prep Support
Our team collaborates with your CPA or internal accountant to make sure records are accurate, organized, and IRS-ready. This ensures smooth filing and proper calculation of your FICA tax tip credit for maximum savings.
IRS Audit Defense Included
If the IRS questions your filing, we provide full audit support, including documentation and compliance checks. Businesses gain peace of mind knowing that their FICA Tip Credit claims are professionally defended.
Advance on Tax Refunds
Through our treasury partner, Rubix, eligible businesses can receive advance funds while the IRS processes their returns. This helps improve cash flow and ensures your FICA payroll tax refunds are accessible sooner.
Audit Defense Backed by Harbor Shield
Every claim includes Harbor Shield audit protection, covering up to $50,000 per quarter in attorney-led defense costs. This guarantees that your FICA tax tip credit is automatically defended, with no separate enrollment required.
Who Is Eligible for the FICA Tip Credit?
If your employees earn tips from customers, your business could be eligible. Typical examples include (but are not limited to):
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Full-Service Restaurants
Places where servers take and deliver orders directly to customers, from casual diners to fine dining establishments.
Examples: Italian restaurants, steakhouses, family-style restaurants
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Bars & Nightclubs
Venues where bartenders and servers earn tips from alcohol and beverage service.
Examples: Pubs, cocktail lounges, sports bars, nightclubs
3
Hotels & Resorts
Businesses where staff, such as bellhops, room service attendants and concierges, receive tips.
Examples: Boutique hotels, luxury resorts, motels
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Catering Companies
Companies providing food service at events where staff are tipped by clients or guests.
Examples: Corporate event caterers, wedding caterers, private chefs
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Coffee Shops & Cafés
Establishments serving drinks and light meals, where baristas or counter staff receive tips.
Examples: Bakery cafés, breakfast spots, coffee houses
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Other Tip-Based Businesses
Any service-oriented business where tipping is standard practice.
Examples: Cruise ship staff, casino restaurants, food delivery teams, valet services
Why This Referral Is One of the Most Valuable Offers You Can Make
Meeting the right conditions is essential to claim the FICA Tip Credit. Your business may qualify if these apply:
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Following these requirements, you can claim the FICA Tip Credit yourself, but seeking guidance from a tax specialist can make the process easier and more efficient.
OBBBA 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 FICA Tax Tip Credit?
Claiming the FICA Tip Credit doesn’t have to be complicated. Many tip-based businesses overpay FICA payroll tax every year, but you can recover these funds efficiently by following a few steps:
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Check Eligibility
Complete a short questionnaire to see if your business qualifies for the employer tip credit. There’s no cost and no commitment.
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Create Your Profile
Set up a secure account in our portal to start your application and safely store your information.
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Add Your Business Details
Provide information about your operations so we can accurately calculate your FICA tip tax credit and show how to calculate the FICA tax owed on tips.
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Submit Your Application
Upload the required documents securely. Our team will review everything to finalize your claim.
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Claim Completed
Once submitted, we handle the filing with the IRS and keep you updated. This ensures your FICA tax tip credit is claimed correctly and efficiently.
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
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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
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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 on FICA Tip Credit and Payroll Tax
Stay informed on FICA Tip Credit and documentation best practices to claim the credit with confidence and avoid common mistakes.
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Ready to turn tips into cash flow?
You’ve already served your guests, collected tips, and paid FICA payroll taxes accurately. Now, let our full-service FICA Tip Credit Program handle the rest.
Our FICA tax credit specialists simplify the process, helping your business recover overpaid FICA payroll tax and maximize your employer tip credit efficiently.
*Source: National Restaurant Association (2025): State of the Restaurant Industry; National Statistics.
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