ISSA Signs Onto Letter Supporting Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit Act

ISSA, along with associations that together represent millions of employees and many millions more customers, has urged Congress to support the Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit. Recently introduced by Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-18-R) and Stephanie Murphy (FL-7-D) in the U.S. House of Representatives, the bipartisan Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit Act would provide a tax credit to businesses to help ensure they are properly cleaned and disinfected as stay-at-home restrictions are lifted and help prevent further infections.

In a letter to congressional leadership, the associations point out there is significant research demonstrating the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for days unless those surfaces are properly cleaned and disinfected. As a result, “the combination of properly trained cleaning personnel and utilizing the correct cleaning products is critical in helping prevent the further spread of this virus as businesses reopen. Unfortunately, many businesses lack the expertise, products, or trained personnel to properly disinfect for coronavirus and other viruses.”

The Clean Start: Back to Work Tax Credit would create a tax credit per business entity to help defray the unforeseen and increased cleaning costs associated with fighting the coronavirus. The credit would be temporary, capped, and used to help offset the costs of cleaning services, cleaning products and sanitary-related equipment, as well as obtaining certification in cleaning. Qualified cleaning expenses also would include personal protective equipment, which are critical to protecting employees and the public.

ISSA estimates the increased cleaning costs associated with the coronavirus will be on average 50% more than they were prior to the outbreak and even more for specialized facilities such as nursing homes, health care facilities, etc.