An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Loan Information

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

Loan amount

The loan is basically your average Gross payroll including group health insurance premiums in the past 12 months, multiplied by 2.5. Example: If the gross wages shown on your 2019 Form 940. Gross payroll also includes payments with 1099. However, the excess paid to anyone over $100,000 should be subtracted from the gross payroll.

When to apply

Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

Who Can Apply

The following entities affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) may be eligible:

Any small business concern that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry based sized standard or the alternative size standard)
Any business, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans organization, or Tribal business concern (sec. 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act) with the greater of:

• 500 employees, or
• That meets the SBA industry size standard if more than 500
• Any business with a NAICS Code that begins with 72 (Accommodations and Food Services) that has more than one physical location and employs less than 500 per location
• Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed persons.

Loan Details and Forgiveness

The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.

Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.

This loan has a maturity of 2 years and an interest rate of 1%.

Information Needed

Banks and approved lenders will ask for the following:

• Average Gross Payroll for the past 12 months. Usually the total wages shown on your Form 940 for 2019.
• 2019 and 2020 Payroll register, Federal and State payroll reports may include Forms 941, 940 and SUTA
• Loan certification that funds will be used to pay for payroll to retain employees during the COVID-19 crisis.