
To qualify for PPP loan forgiveness, businesses must meet certain eligibility requirements, including using the loan funds for eligible expenses, maintaining payroll, and adhering to specific forgiveness application procedures.
Eligible expenses for PPP loan forgiveness include payroll costs, rent, utilities, and interest on mortgages or other debt obligations incurred before February 15, 2020.
Businesses that have reduced their workforce or pay may still be eligible for forgiveness, but they must meet specific requirements and provide documentation to support their application.
The amount of PPP loan forgiveness is based on the borrower's eligible expenses, with a maximum forgiveness amount of $10 million for borrowers with 500 or fewer employees.
Application Process
Applying for PPP loan forgiveness can be a straightforward process. Effective March 13, 2024, all borrowers can use SBA's direct forgiveness portal, which can take as little as 15 minutes to complete.
You have two options for applying for forgiveness: using the SBA's direct forgiveness portal or working with your lender. If you prefer to work with your lender, they can still accept PPP forgiveness applications directly.
For another approach, see: Direct Loan Consolidation Public Service Forgiveness
Each forgiveness form has unique instructions for documentation that must be submitted with your loan forgiveness application. SBA Form 3508S does not require borrowers to provide additional documentation upon forgiveness submission, but borrowers should be prepared to provide relevant documentation if requested.
To download the application, visit sba.gov. You'll need to fill out the form yourself after your coverage period is up and then submit it to your lender for processing. Note that you'll need to collect all required documents, including verification of the number of full-time employees on the payroll and their wage rates.
If your loan was for more than $150,000, you'll need to apply for forgiveness via your lender. Each lender has a different process for this application, but they'll typically contact you if you're eligible for loan forgiveness.
Here's a summary of the required documents:
- Verification of the number of full-time employees on the payroll, as well as their wage rates for the period used to show you met the staff and wage level requirements.
- Documents that verify your mortgage, utility, or rent payments.
Your lender must respond with a forgiveness determination within 60 days of receiving your PPP forgiveness application form. After the SBA determines your loan forgiveness amount, your loan payments will begin.
Eligibility and Coverage
You can choose a term of 8-24 week coverage period when you apply for your loan. This coverage period starts the day you received your first loan payment.
Any payroll incurred during the coverage period is an eligible expense. Don't worry about adjusting your payroll schedule to fit this window, as your coverage period will automatically align with your loan payments.
Payroll and Costs
To qualify for full PPP loan forgiveness, your business must have spent at least 75% of the funds on payroll costs. You'll need to document the amount of cash compensation paid to employees through bank account statements or third-party payroll service provider reports.
Eligible payroll costs include bonuses, commissions, hazard pay, and payment to furloughed employees, as long as they don't exceed the $100,000 salary cap. This is a crucial point, as it means you can still count these expenses towards loan forgiveness.
Non-payroll costs, such as mortgage interest, rent, and utilities, must be paid during the Covered Period or incurred during the Covered Period and paid on or before the next regular billing date. This means you can include more rental, utility, and interest payments, as long as the expense was in place as of February 15, 2020.
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To ensure you're meeting the 75% payroll cost requirement, consider the following breakdown:
- Payroll costs are considered paid on the day that paychecks are distributed, or the borrower initiates an ACH credit transaction.
- Payroll costs are considered incurred on the day the employee's pay is earned.
- Payroll costs incurred but not paid during the borrower's last pay period of the Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period are eligible for forgiveness if paid on or before the next regular payroll date.
By understanding the rules surrounding payroll and costs, you'll be better equipped to maximize your PPP loan forgiveness amount.
Loan Forgiveness and Repayment
If you received a PPP loan, you may be able to apply for forgiveness. If this is granted, you won't have to repay the loan.
To qualify for forgiveness, you must use at least 60% of the funding on payroll costs. You can still receive some forgiveness if you don't follow this rule, but the amount will reduce in proportion to the percentage you did spend on payroll.
You can apply for forgiveness via your lender or directly to the SBA, and your lender must respond with a forgiveness determination within 60 days of receiving your application. If you're eligible for forgiveness, you won't have to repay the loan, but if your loan is not forgiven, you'll have to repay any amount of the PPP loan at 1% interest over a five-year term.
Debt Forgiveness
Debt forgiveness is a crucial aspect of the loan forgiveness process. You can have your PPP loan partially forgiven if you didn't spend more than 60% of your PPP loan on payroll costs.
To be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness, you must use at least 60% of the funding on payroll costs. This is a result of the changes to PPP loan forgiveness laid out in the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act.
If you don't meet the 60% payroll cost requirement, you may still be able to get your other eligible costs forgiven. However, the amount of forgiveness will reduce in proportion to the percentage you did spend on payroll.
You can apply for forgiveness via the SBA's direct forgiveness portal or through your lender. If your loan was for more than $150,000, you must apply through your lender.
Here are the key dates to keep in mind:
- Borrowers can apply once they've used all the loan proceeds they're requesting forgiveness for.
- Borrowers can apply for forgiveness any time up to five years from the date that SBA issued the SBA loan number.
- If borrowers do not apply for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period, then PPP loan payments are no longer deferred, and borrowers will begin making loan payments to their PPP lender.
To apply for forgiveness, download the application form from the SBA website. Fill out the form yourself after your coverage period is up and then submit it to your lender for processing. You'll need to collect all required documents to complete the PPP loan forgiveness application, including verification of the number of full-time employees on the payroll and documents that verify your mortgage, utility, or rent payments.
Here's an interesting read: Ppp Loan Application Form
What Happens to Unused Proceeds?
If you have PPP loan proceeds that are not forgiven, you'll have to repay them. You'll repay the loan at 1% interest over a five-year term.
Loan payments will be deferred for six months, but interest will start accruing immediately. This means you won't have to make payments right away, but you will still owe interest on the loan.
Explore further: What Loan Amount Do I Qualify for
SBA and Application
The SBA plays a significant role in the PPP loan forgiveness process. You can apply for forgiveness directly from the SBA if your lender was one of the 1,400 lenders that participated in the SBA's Direct Forgiveness program.
To apply for forgiveness through the SBA, you should visit the SBA's PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal. Fill out SBA Form 3508S if your loan was for $150,000 or less. You don't have to tell the SBA how you spent the funds, and if it's your first loan, you don't need to submit any further documentation.
If you have a second-draw loan, you'll have to prove that you lost revenue before your loan can be forgiven. The SBA will typically respond to your application within 60 days of receiving it, after which your loan payments will begin.
Here are the key steps to apply for forgiveness through the SBA:
- Visit the SBA's PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal
- Fill out SBA Form 3508S if your loan was for $150,000 or less
- Submit your application and supporting documentation
Through the SBA
Applying for forgiveness through the SBA is a straightforward process. You can apply for forgiveness directly from the SBA if your lender was one of the 1,400 lenders that participated in the SBA’s Direct Forgiveness program.
To get started, visit the SBA’s PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal. If your loan was for $150,000 or less, you'll need to fill out SBA Form 3508S. This form doesn't require you to provide additional documentation upon forgiveness submission, but be prepared to provide relevant documentation if requested as part of the loan review or audit processes.
You can apply for forgiveness using the portal, which can take as little as 15 minutes. The questions you'll be asked in the portal correspond to those asked on SBA Form 3508, SBA Form 3508EZ, or SBA Form 3508S.
Borrowers can apply for forgiveness any time up to five years from the date that SBA issued the SBA loan number. However, if you don't apply for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period, then PPP loan payments are no longer deferred, and you'll begin making loan payments to your PPP lender.
SBA Application Decline Consequences
If the SBA declines your forgiveness application, you'll receive a Final Loan Review Decision from the SBA.
The SBA will send this decision to your lender, who must then pass it along to you within five business days.
You'll have 30 days from the date you receive the decision to file an appeal, which must be done online at appeals.sba.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money was given out in PPP?
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided approximately $800 billion in low-interest loans to small businesses during the pandemic. Most of these loans are expected to be forgiven.
What are the requirements to get a PPP loan forgiveness?
To qualify for PPP loan forgiveness, businesses must use at least 60% of the loan funds for payroll costs within an 8-24 week period after disbursement. Meeting this requirement is a crucial step towards having your loan forgiven.
Sources
- https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program/ppp-loan-forgiveness
- https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/ppp-loan-forgiveness
- https://www.investopedia.com/paycheck-protection-program-ppp-loan-forgiveness-7550209
- https://marquettesavings.bank/business/learn/covid-19-ppp-loan-forgiveness/
- https://www.trinet.com/insights/paycheck-protection-program-updated-guidance-on-ppp-loan-forgiveness
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