If you’re running apprenticeships in New York, the Empire State Apprenticeship Tax Credit (ESATC) is real money on the table—up to $7,000 per apprentice each year, plus a $500 mentor bonus. The problem isn’t eligibility. It’s the paperwork grind: proving full‑time employment across six months, tracking mentor relationships consistently, and hitting December 31 deadlines for both the application and Employer Final Report.
This is where Craft steps in—compliance first, admin light. The platform streamlines program management and automates ESATC documentation end-to-end. No more rebuilding records from spreadsheets or chasing mentors for retroactive notes. Your data is captured in real time and converted into exactly what NYSDOL expects, so credits don’t get left behind.
What the Platform Handles for You
- Live tracking of OJT hours, RTI completions, wage progress, and mentor interactions—so the six‑month, 35+ hours/week threshold is never in doubt.
- Rubric‑based mentor feedback with timestamps and observations that provide continuous guidance for the $500 annual bonus.
- Validation aligned to NYSDOL and USDOL standards, so your reports land audit‑ready the first time.
- One‑click Employer Final Report exports in the format regulators expect. When December 31 hits, your data is already in order.
Why This Matters
- Maximize returns: Real‑time dashboards surface who qualifies for base and enhanced rates (including disadvantaged youth: up to $7,000 vs. $6,000 base) and who’s on track for the mentor bonus
- Save time: Automation cuts administrative work dramatically and eliminates the end‑of‑year scramble.
- Ensure compliance: Built‑in checks prevent costly denials. AutoReg streamlines Appendix A and Form 671 and integrates with RAPIDS, keeping your program registration clean and current.
- Scale cleanly: Cohort management and bulk CSV tools keep multi‑site operations consistent across New York locations without multiplying work.
Who Benefits Most
- Apprenticeship sponsors are ready to unlock untapped credits through better documentation and automated state reporting.
- Employers in healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and skilled trades are building pipelines in ESATC‑eligible occupations.
- Multi‑site teams that need to track apprentices consistently across locations with role‑based access and unified standards.
- Small and mid‑sized businesses that want the refundable credit but don’t have staff to wrestle with complex documentation.
What It Looks Like Day to Day
- Administrators get role‑based dashboards showing who has met employment thresholds, who has full‑year mentorship, and who qualifies for enhancements
- Mentors log structured observations and competency validations as part of normal feedback—no separate “compliance” task to remember later
- Apprentices see milestones, hours, and progress toward completion in one place, making expectations and next steps clear
- When you need to file, exports take minutes—hours; completions, mentor assignments, and demographics are already aligned to what the state requires.
Bottom Line
ESATC shouldn’t be hard money to claim. With continuous tracking, built‑in validation, and audit‑ready reporting, you capture every dollar your apprenticeships earn—without year‑end chaos.
Ready to see how much more your program could unlock? Schedule a 15‑minute ESATC assessment with Craft Education today. Email Robert Owens at robert.owens@crafteducation.com.
