The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program is a tax incentive introduced by the U.S. government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to provide financial assistance to eligible employers who have experienced a difficult time in business due to the pandemic and have retained their employees. The credit is available to businesses of all sizes and can be used to offset payroll taxes or claim as a refundable credit. The program provides up to $7,000 per employee per quarter and can be claimed for up to four quarters. The ERC is designed to encourage businesses to keep their employees on the payroll during these difficult times.