As post-COVID recovery efforts gain momentum, many businesses are taking a fresh look at some federal stimulus and tax relief programs they had not previously considered. One such program, the employee retention credit contained in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, could be especially useful in helping companies bring back furloughed or laid-off employees.
In addition to helping reduce employment tax obligations, it could also help cash-strapped companies of any size improve cash flow during times of reduced revenue. (more…)
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped millions of businesses cope with the consequences of the COVID-19 shutdown. But, like any large and complex program, the PPP has also generated a lot of questions, particularly regarding the records borrowers must keep to qualify for loan forgiveness.
The rules governing PPP loan forgiveness cover a broad range of operational and financial areas and involve numerous tax and financial reporting documents. Some of the rules also have changed over time, further complicating the recordkeeping requirements. (more…)
By Rachel Gillespie, CPA, Principal
ASL Real Estate Group
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act created several new funding options and tax opportunities for Bay Area businesses. This includes the Paycheck Protection Program, changes to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and the introduction of payroll tax credits for qualifying paid sick leave and for employee retention efforts. The central focus of the changes was to provide immediate cash flow opportunities through low-interest loans, payroll tax credits, and other incentives. While these provisions in the CARES Act often receive the most attention, there was another change that can provide immediate cash flow benefits to both landlords and tenants. Through a technical correction provided in the CARES Act, Qualified Improvement Property (QIP) placed into service in 2018 or later, is now considered 15-year property and eligible for 100% bonus depreciation. This technical correction opens the door to new saving opportunities for qualifying taxpayers. (more…)
The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 7010) was signed by the President on June 5, 2020. It provides businesses who received or will receive a Paycheck Protection Program loan with more flexibility to use their funds and have their loans forgiven.
We have outlined the major provisions of the Act below. Please reach out to our COVID-19 Resource Team for further guidance or if you have any questions. (more…)
By James Krech, Audit Senior
It’s no surprise we are currently experiencing unprecedented, uncertain, and unnerving times. As business owners, executives, and managers, your first priority could be tending to the business, identifying all the hardships that are currently present or that could arise in the near future, and making some hard decisions as to how to weather the storm. This response is certainly crucial to ensure the wellbeing and future success of the company and your employees, and there are many opportunities available for you to explore, which we will get into shortly. However, there is something just as equally important as supporting your company, if not more so, and that is caring for yourself. (more…)
The impact of the COVID-19 emergency on all businesses has been transformative. The combination of shelter in place orders with forced business closures have left many facing dwindling demand for products and services. The seemingly overnight shift has forced many to make tough decisions about whether to furlough or terminate employees and how to manage expenses. The depth of the challenge becomes clear in light of the reported 4.6 million Californians who have filed for unemployment. To help cope with the emergency, Congress passed both the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The FFCRA provides expanded sick leave benefits and the CARES Act provides various tax and financial relief options. While they attack the emergency from different angles and for different purposes, they are connected through their use of payroll tax credits. (more…)
New Developments – 8/4/20
Treasury Department released new FAQ’s for PPP Loan Forgiveness (Updated Aug. 4) confirming existing guidance and addressing a few open issues, including the meaning of “transportation utility expenses.”
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There has been much confusion due to a lack of detailed guidance related to a borrower’s requirement to “certify their need” for a PPP loan considering “other sources of liquidity”. Our previous blog post, SBA Announces Retro-Active Change to Paycheck Protection Loan Program, discussed this issue.
Earlier today, May 13, 2020, the SBA released FAQ #46 granting a safe harbor for many borrowers.
Under the “safe harbor,” all loans with an original amount of under $2 million will be deemed to have met the certification requirements in good faith. (more…)
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) launched in early April with little guidance provided to both borrowers and lenders. Many businesses acted quickly to determine their maximum loan amounts and submit their applications before funds would run out. Recently, there has been scrutiny related to certain recipients of the funds. In light of this, we want to ensure you are aware of the certifications that borrowers were attesting to on their loan applications. Specifically, borrowers were representing that “current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the applicant”. (more…)
