The SBA announced that PPP borrowers of $150,000 or less (for either first draw or second draw loans) have access to a simplified loan forgiveness process:
- SBA Loan Forgiveness Portal – Borrowers are able to submit their loan forgiveness application directly to the SBA through a streamlined portal as of August 4, 2021, rather than to their lender/bank.
- The lender/bank must opt-in to participate in this program. Therefore, check with your lender to see if you can utilize the SBA Portal. Currently, nearly 900 banks representing over 2 million borrowers have agreed to participate, however, it is expected that most large financial institutions will not participate and continue to use their proprietary portals. The SBA has provided a list of participating lenders.
- The Portal will allow borrowers to complete Form 3508S which was recently revised.
- The SBA set up a PPP customer service team to answer questions and directly assist borrowers with their forgiveness applications. The customer service team is available by calling (877) 552-2692, Monday – Friday, 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM PDT.
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PPP Loan Payments May Be Due for Some Borrowers – PPP loan borrowers have ten months after their “Covered Period” ends (anywhere between 8 and 24 weeks after receiving loan proceeds) before loan payments are required. Borrowers can apply for forgiveness at any time before the loan matures but will need to start making payments if they apply after this ten-month period. For those who received a PPP loan at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, it may be close to the end of their ten-month window, and payments may be required soon. (more…)
The Consolidated Apportionment Act of 2021, signed by President Trump in late December, authorized $285 billion of funding for a new round of PPP loans. Loans are available to borrowers that previously received a PPP loan and to first-time borrowers. The SBA released application forms last week and opened their lender portal this week to a limited number of lenders to help underserved businesses get first access to PPP funds.
The SBA’s Portal will open Friday, January 15th for lenders with assets under $1 billion, and opens Tuesday, January 19th for all other lenders. Eligibility requirements have changed from the previous program. (more…)
The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 signed by President Trump on Sunday, December 27, 2020, offers many opportunities for borrowers. More implementation guidance is expected from both the SBA and Treasury Department regarding unanswered questions and issues that will develop as the program is implemented but for now, borrowers should consider how they may benefit from these provisions. (more…)
On December 21, 2020, Congress finally delivered much needed relief to American taxpayers. After many months of contentious negotiations, Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package with tax benefits for both individuals and business entities. Also included was a long-awaited change to the Paycheck Protection Program that will allow borrowers to deduct expenses paid with PPP funds as well as additional funding for another round of PPP loans.
We want to provide you with a brief summary of the key provisions of the bill. Watch your email and our website for additional information as we analyze the 5,600-page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
As always, please contact us if you have any questions. (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…)
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…)
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…)
