Paycheck Protection Program

Important Update

As of 4/31/21, SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding. READ MORE HERE

Loan Information

This loan is 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.

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Covered Loan Period

Retroactive to February 15, 2020, through June 30, 2020

Application Period

April 3: Small businesses and sole proprietorships can start applying for paycheck protection loans from existing SBA lenders

April 10: Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can start applying for paycheck protection loans from existing SBA lenders

June 30, 2020: The program application window closes

Eligible Businesses

Small businesses, nonprofits, Tribal business concerns, and veteran’s organizations that:

Have less than 500 employees or the applicable size standard for the industry as provided by SBA, or
Are sole proprietors, self-employed individuals, or independent contractors
Were in business on Feb. 15, 2020

Read our blog post on Paycheck Protection Program for self-employed individuals.

Maximum Loan Amount

The lesser of:

2.5X average monthly payroll costs during the 1 year* before the date on which the loan is made, or $10 million
*For new businesses, the measurement period would be Jan. 1 to Feb. 29, 2020

The legislation also temporarily increases the maximum amount for an SBA Express loan from $350,000 to $1 million through December 31, 2020

Guarantees

Increases the government guarantee of 7(a) loans to 100 percent through December 31, 2020

Allowable Uses

Payroll costs (capped at $100,000 on an annual basis for each employee)
Health care benefits (including paid sick or medical leave, and insurance premiums)
Mortgage interest obligations
Rent obligations
Utility payments
Interest on other debt obligations incurred previous to Feb. 15, 2020

Eligible Lenders

SBA-guaranteed lenders. SBA and the Department of the Treasury are granted authority to determine additional lenders to administer the Payment Protection Program loans

Maturity Schedule

All loans have a 2-year maturity

Interest Rate

1 percent fixed rate

Payment Deferral

All payments deferred for 6 months (interest will continue to accrue)

Terms of Loan Forgiveness

(Sec.1106)

Loan recipients will be eligible for loan forgiveness for 8 weeks after the loan’s origination date in the amount equal to the sum of the following costs incurred during that period:

Payroll costs (capped at $100,000 on an annual basis for each employee)
Payment of interest on the mortgage obligation
Rent obligations
Utility payments

SBA and Treasury guidance suggests not more than 25 percent of the forgiven loan amount may be used for non-payroll costs.

If a business took out an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) related to COVID-19 between January 31 and April 3, 2020, the borrower may refinance the loan under this program and receive loan forgiveness benefits on the refinanced amount.

The amount forgiven cannot exceed the amount borrowed.

Loan forgiveness will be proportionally reduced if the average number of employees is reduced during the covered period as compared to the same period in 2019. The amount of loan forgiveness will be reduced by the amount of any reduction in total employee salary or wages during the covered period that is more than 25 percent of the total salary or wages.

Payroll documentation and documentation of expenses are required to receive forgiveness, to ensure the forgiveness was used to retain employees and pay expenses
Borrowers that rehire laid-off workers by June 30 won’t be penalized for having a smaller workforce at the beginning of the period
Borrowers with tipped workers may receive loan forgiveness for the additional wages paid to those employees.

Lenders have 60 days to issue a decision on the application.

The canceled loan amount will not count towards gross income for tax purposes.

Waivers

Borrower and lender fees are waived
Prepayment fees are waived
The Credit Elsewhere requirement is waived

Borrower Requirements

Good faith certification that the loan is necessary because of economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and will be applied to maintain payroll and make required payments
The borrower must also certify that they are not receiving this assistance and duplicative funds for the same uses from another SBA program
No collateral or personal guarantee is required

Nonbinding Guidance

Lenders should prioritize small businesses, entities in underserved and rural markets, veterans and members of the military community, small business concerns owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, women, and businesses in operation for less than 2 years

Lender Reimbursements

Lenders will be reimbursed at the following rates based on the balance of the financing outstanding at the time of loan disbursement:

5 percent for loans up to and including $350,000
3 percent for loans between $350,000 and $2,000,000
1 percent for loans above $2,000,000

Appropriated Amounts for Program

$349 billion

Last update 4 / 3 / 20