1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Back to Work Act of 2017 . 2. Extension and improvement of work opportunity tax credit for veterans (a) Credit made permanent for veterans Section 51(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting (other than a qualified veteran) after an individual . (b) Election To Claim Credit as Exemption From Employment Taxes (1) In general Section 3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) Special exemption for certain veterans (1) In general Subsection (a) shall not apply to first-year wages paid after the date of the enactment of this subsection by a qualified employer with respect to employment of any specified veteran for services performed— (A) in a trade or business of such qualified employer, or (B) in the case of a qualified employer exempt from tax under section 501(a), in furtherance of the activities related to the purpose or function constituting the basis of the employer’s exemption under section 501. (2) Limitation With respect to any specified veteran employed by a qualified employer, the amount of wages to which paragraph (1) applies shall not exceed— (A) $125,490 in the case of an individual who is a qualified veteran by reason of section 51(d)(3)(A)(ii)(II), (B) $73,203 in the case of an individual who is a qualified veteran by reason of section 51(d)(3)(A)(iv), (C) $62,745 in the case of an individual who is a qualified veteran by reason of section 51(d)(3)(A)(ii)(I), and (D) $31,373 in the case of any other qualified veteran. (3) Qualified employer For purposes of this subsection— (A) In general The term qualified employer means any employer other than the United States, any State, or any political subdivision thereof, or any instrumentality of the foregoing. (B) Treatment of employees of post-secondary educational institutions Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the term qualified employer includes any employer which is a public institution of higher education (as