Bill · S. 4463· Senate(119-S-4463)
WAGES Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 4/30/2026
- Last activity
- 4/30/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Todd Young
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The WAGES Act of 2026 aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a new tax credit for employers. This credit is designed to offset costs related to wages and expenses for registered apprenticeship programs. Eligible employers can claim a credit against their employment taxes for qualified wages and program expenses. The bill identifies several industries, such as construction and health care, that face workforce shortages. It also seeks to promote upward economic mobility by providing career pathways for those without four-year degrees.
Yes· 3 of 11
Is this likely to create jobs?+6
The bill encourages workforce development through apprenticeship programs in high-demand industries.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+6
The bill creates career pathways and income opportunities for young people entering the workforce via apprenticeships.
Does this cut taxes for small businesses?+5
The bill provides a tax credit for employers to offset costs associated with registered apprenticeship programs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Relief for Employers: Eligible employers can receive a credit equal to 50 percent of the sum of qualified wages and registered apprenticeship program expenses (Section 3).
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Support for Career Development: The bill supports registered apprenticeship programs which combine paid on-e-job learning with instruction to help workers gain industry-recognized credentials (Section 2).
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Increased Economic Mobility: Expanding apprenticeship programs provides pathways to higher earnings and stable careers for individuals without a four-year college degree (Section 2).
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Addressing Workforce Shortages: The bill addresses shortages in essential industries like construction, advanced manufacturing, health care, and many others (Section 2).
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Tax Advantages for Employee Awards: Employers can transfer awards to employees in a registered apprenticeship program in connection with their training and curriculum under specific conditions (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Exclusion of Government Entities: This credit does not apply to the United States Government, any State government, or any political subdivision thereof (Section 3).
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Exclusion of Certain Owners: A "qualified apprentice" cannot be a 5-percent owner (Section 3).
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Wage Limitations: The amount of qualified wages that can be taken into account is capped at $5,000 (Section 3).
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Expense Limitations: There are specific limits on the amount of registered apprenticeship program expenses that can be included in the credit (Section 3).
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Restriction on Award Timing: An item is not considered an apprenticeship award if it is received during the recipient's first 90 days of participating in the program (Section 4).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+6Improves Economic Growth+5Improves Small Business Support+5Reduces Small Business Taxes+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Young Adults+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Union Workers+4
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- 4/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.