Retrotax
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Retrotax does
Retrotax is a privately held, family-owned tax credit administration firm founded in 1996 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It locates, prepares, files, and administers federal, state, and municipal tax incentives on behalf of US employers, spanning the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC, up to $9,600 per eligible employee), Federal Empowerment Zone wage credits, Indian Employment Tax Credits, R&D credits, 179d energy-efficient building deductions, state and municipal incentive programs, cost segregation studies, property tax appeals, and—since 2020—the CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). The firm operates an AWS-hosted, API-first SaaS platform (TCID) with token-based authentication, multi-environment endpoints, and three-tier (Client/Company/Location) access controls, exposing RESTful integration alongside Plugin, Webscreen, and Export/Embed options for partners that prefer faster onboarding.
The firm makes money on a contingency basis, earning 25% of the total federal and state tax credits it generates for a client (plus $480 per certification if WOTC payroll is not delivered by October 1 of the tax year), with multi-year contracts structured around prior, current, and future-year credits. Go-to-market is hybrid: an enterprise field-sales motion serves large direct employers (e.g., restaurant chains, retailers, healthcare, staffing, transportation, financial services, construction) while a channel-led motion embeds the API into HRIS and ATS platforms including BambooHR, Namely, JazzHR, PrismHR, Paylocity, UltimateSoftware, WorkBright, Applicant Pro, GoCo, PlanSource, Ahola, and Avionte; tax-services and PEO resellers (Ryan, SWBC, Sheakley, Business Financial Group, Minute Men, Avalara) round out distribution. Retrotax is led by five principals—Alan Newcomb (CEO), Angie Mackey (COO), Cindy Pfost (CIO), Becky Bennett (CFO), and Natalie Commons (CRO)—and operates with an 11–50 employee headcount, holding SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
The platform is positioned as compliance-heavy managed services wrapped in software: Retrotax performs the identification, form preparation, and submission of credits while partners and direct customers feed the underlying employee and location data through the API. No revenue, funding, or M&A activity is disclosed; the firm appears to be founder/family-financed and continues to operate at its Indianapolis headquarters.
Retrotax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Retrotax
- Legal name
- RetroTax
- Website
- https://retrotax-aci.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Retrotax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tax Credit Administration Services
- NAICS
- Employment Services (5613), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Business Support Services (5614)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Payroll Tax Filing, Compliance & Remittance (BPACAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Benefits Administration & Enrollment Support (BPAAAIAB), Workforce Compliance & Employment Law Risk Management (Local Labor Law, Tax, Statutory) (BPACAHAH)
Keywords
Where Retrotax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Retrotax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tax Credit Administration Fee: RetroTax earns a contingency fee equal to 25% of the total federal and state tax credits generated through their services, regardless of whether the credits are utilized for prior, current, or future years. Additional processing fees apply for certifications when payroll data is not provided by October 1st of the tax year.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Multi-year contract | Performance-based contingency fee model |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Retrotax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RetroTax administers federal, state, and local tax credit and incentive programs for employers, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Federal Empowerment Zone Wage Credit, R&D credits, 179d energy-efficient building deductions, Indian Employment Tax Credit, state and municipal incentives, cost segregation studies, and property tax appeals. The company identifies eligible incentives, prepares and submits required forms, and provides integration pathways (API, Plugin, Webscreen, Export) that allow HRIS partners and employers to embed screening directly into hiring workflows. Services are delivered under a contingency-fee model equal to 25% of the federal and state tax credits generated.
Product overview
RetroTax is a tax credit administration platform offering a unified product focused on identifying and administering tax incentives for businesses. The core offering includes screening for Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC), Federal Empowerment Zone credits, R&D tax credits, 179d deductions, state and municipal incentives, Indian Employment Tax Credits, cost segregation studies, and property tax appeals. The platform provides multiple integration methods: full API Integration for enterprise HRIS partners, Plugin for website embedding, Webscreen for direct linking, and Export for HRIS form embedding. A recent addition includes CARES Act Retention Credit screening for COVID-19 affected businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Screening Federal income tax credit screening service for employers that hire individuals from targeted groups (veterans, ex-felons, recipients of public assistance, residents of empowerment zones, and other qualifying demographics), providing up to $9,600 per eligible employee.
- Federal Empowerment Zone (FEZ) Wage Credit Federal income tax credit of up to $3,000 per employee per year for businesses operating in designated distressed communities, intended to revitalize economies of qualifying empowerment zones.
- R&D Tax Credit Screening Research and development credit identification service for companies that develop new or improved products, processes, or software, covering four categories of qualifying expenses.
- 179d Energy-Efficient Building Deductions Tax deduction identification for commercial property owners or lessees making energy-efficient improvements to buildings.
- State and Municipal Incentive Programs State-based tax incentive identification and administration focused on attracting new business or enhancing existing companies to spur growth.
- Indian Employment Tax Credit Screening
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to $9,600 per eligible employee in federal income tax credits through WOTC program
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Retrotax
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Retrotax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
Retrotax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BambooHRcoreHRIS integration partner allowing BambooHR customers to access RetroTax's WOTC and tax credit screening directly within their HR platform.
- NamelycoreNative integration with Namely's HR platform, enabling seamless authentication and tax credit screening workflow for Namely clients.
- JazzHRcoreReferral partnership channel directing JazzHR customers to RetroTax for tax credit screening services.
- PrismHRcoreHRIS platform integration enabling PEO clients of PrismHR to access RetroTax's tax credit administration services.
- PaylocitycoreIntegration with Paylocity's payroll and HR platform for tax credit screening capabilities.
- UltimateSoftwarecoreIntegration with UltimateSoftware's HR and payroll platform for WOTC screening.
- SheakleyminorPEO and HR services partner offering RetroTax tax credit administration to their client base.
- Business Financial GroupminorFinancial services partner referring clients for tax credit services.
- RyanminorTax services firm partner offering RetroTax services to their corporate tax clients.
- SWBCminorFinancial services partner providing tax credit services to their banking and lending clients.
- Minute MenminorHR services partner offering RetroTax to their small business client base.
- VantacoreSecurity and compliance automation platform partner helping RetroTax achieve and maintain SOC 2 compliance. Partnership announced January 2020.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Retrotax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CBIZ: Large national accounting and tax advisory firm that offers WOTC and tax credit screening services as part of its broader tax practice, competing with RetroTax on employer-side workforce credit claims.
- Ryan LLC: Global tax services and software firm offering tax credit services (including WOTC/employment credits) to enterprise clients, overlapping with RetroTax's employer customer base.
- ADP: Large payroll and HR services provider whose scale and existing employer relationships position it as a potential in-houser of WOTC/credit screening and an indirect competitor.
- Paychex: Payroll/HR incumbent serving SMB and mid-market employers; competes with RetroTax both as a potential referral partner and a possible in-house WOTC provider.
- Avalara: Tax compliance technology platform (and listed RetroTax partner), with overlapping footprint in employer tax compliance and incentive areas; potential competitor if it expands into credits/screening.
- Ernst & Young (EY) Tax Credits & Incentives: Big Four advisory practice with a credits & incentives group that administers R&D, WOTC, and state hiring credits for large employers, overlapping at the enterprise end of RetroTax's customer base.
- BDO USA: Mid-tier accounting/advisory firm with dedicated credits & incentives services (including WOTC) targeting employers that overlap with RetroTax's mid-market customer segment.
Direct peers
- Tax Credit Co. (TCC): Specialized WOTC screening and tax credit administration firm serving employers via HRIS integrations; closest direct competitor with similar contingency-fee model and target verticals.
- Corporate Tax Credit (CTC): WOTC-focused administrator offering screening, certification and filing to employers across multiple industries; competes head-to-head with RetroTax for employer contract wins.
Regional players
- Jackson Hewitt: Tax preparation franchise network that historically promoted WOTC/Earned Income credits to small businesses and individuals, representing a smaller-scale adjacent competitor in the small-business hiring credit space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Retrotax social profiles
Digital presenceRetrotax compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Retrotax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Retrotax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Retrotax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Retrotax M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Retrotax
What does Retrotax do?
RetroTax administers federal, state, and local tax credit and incentive programs for employers, including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Federal Empowerment Zone Wage Credit, R&D credits, 179d energy-efficient building deductions, Indian Employment Tax Credit, state and municipal incentives, cost segregation studies, and property tax appeals. The company identifies eligible incentives, prepares and submits required forms, and provides integration pathways (API, Plugin, Webscreen, Export) that allow HRIS partners and employers to embed screening directly into hiring workflows. Services are delivered under a contingency-fee model equal to 25% of the federal and state tax credits generated.
Is Retrotax a public or private company?
Retrotax is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Retrotax founded?
Retrotax was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Retrotax based?
Retrotax is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Retrotax make money?
One revenue line is on record: tax Credit Administration Fee.
Who are Retrotax's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CBIZ, Ryan LLC, ADP, Paychex, Avalara, Ernst & Young (EY) Tax Credits & Incentives and BDO USA. Direct peers are Tax Credit Co. (TCC) and Corporate Tax Credit (CTC). Jackson Hewitt is listed as a regional player.
Does Retrotax have an API?
Yes. REST API allowing HRIS partners to integrate WOTC screening and geographic/state-level tax credit processing into existing software platforms. The API uses token-based authentication with an API key in the X-API-KEY header. Supports three environments: Production, Staging, and QA, with both SNI-enabled and SNI-disabled endpoints. Implementation typically takes a few months. Developer documentation is at developer.retrotax-aci.com.
What industry is Retrotax in?
Retrotax's product category is Tax Credit Administration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAIAC, Payroll Tax Filing, Compliance & Remittance, with a secondary code of BPAAAIAB, Benefits Administration & Enrollment Support. Its NAICS code is 5613 and its SIC code is 7361.