Following the first surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States, many businesses financially impacted by the pandemic have applied for federal funds through the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). One key element of the PPP is loan forgiveness, but business owners who received PPP funds must apply for that forgiveness. If you received funds and are in the process of requesting loan forgiveness, the Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department have introduced new guidance and changes to assist both lenders and PPP borrowers of $50,000 or less with the forgiveness process. The changes include

●      a new simplified application,

●      reductions in the information that lenders must receive, and

●      an exemption from the reductions in the forgiveness amount that were tied to the reductions in the number of employees and their wages or salaries.

Changes for Borrowers of $50,000 or Less

Effective October 14, 2020, a new loan application, Form 3408S, has made it easier for business owners to apply for loan forgiveness by removing some of the loan application elements that confused borrowers and lenders. Specifically, the new application eliminates the need for borrowers of less than $50,000 to conduct complex calculations by allowing them to enjoy full loan forgiveness regardless of any reductions in the number of full-time equivalent employees and decreases in employees' wages or salaries that may have occurred during the covered period. One eligibility consideration for this simplified process and relief is whether the borrower, together with any affiliates, received $2 million or more in PPP funds. Such borrowers are not eligible for this relief and must use the previously issued application.

But these changes have not eliminated every requirement for eligible borrowers. If you fall into the category of those eligible for this new application, you must provide specific certifications. These include certifications that

●      the amount for which you are requesting forgiveness does not exceed the principal of your PPP loan,

●      payroll costs are at least 60 percent of the forgiveness amount,

●      you have complied with the covered period requirements of your loan, and

●      you used the funds to pay for costs eligible for forgiveness.

You must still show that you used the money as required under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and subsequent amendments.

Not Just Borrowers Are Impacted

These new changes also impact the PPP lenders. Although eligible borrowers no longer have to provide certain calculations in their forgiveness applications, lenders are required in their loan review processes to make sure they receive the specified certifications. Additionally, lenders are allowed to request additional documentation from borrowers. The purpose behind these changes for loan review is to create a system for quickly processing the loans.

What Happens If You Don't Qualify for the Simplified Process?

Noneligible PPP borrowers are still required to use the former loan applications, Form 3408EZ or Form 3408. If you borrowed more than $50,000, your process is unchanged. Some people believe more changes and more funds may be coming, but as yet, there has been no new legislation to that effect.

Want More Information

If you additional information regarding the PPP loan forgiveness process, please use the following link to access the SBA's website (https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program).