LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Friday, April 03, 2020

Paycheck Protection Program - Regulations Explained

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on 3/27/2020, includes expeditious relief for America's small businesses through loans funded at $349 billion.

§1102 of the CARES Act establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the SBA 7(a) Loan Program & §1106 provides forgiveness of up to the full principal of loan.

To fulfill the expeditious intent of providing relief to small businesses, the SBA issued its final rule on 4/2/2020 without the typical 30-day delay for effectiveness. 

We will be discussing the PPP in great detail on Real Estate Investing with Andrew Lieb this Sunday at noon on LI News Radio (WRCN / FM103.9) - If you are in business, don't miss this important segment - it could save your financial life. 

Here is a Summary of the Interim Final Rule found at 13 CFR Part 120
  • Loan Terms:
    • No collateral
    • No personal guarantee
    • No fees
    • Loan payments deferred 6 months (interest accrues)
    • 2-year maturity
    • 1% interest rate
    • Maximum loan $10MM
  • Loan Amount (calculation methodology):
    1. Aggregate payroll costs from last 12 months
    2. Subtract amounts paid to employee over $100K
    3. Divide net of steps 1 & 2 by 12
    4. Multiply step 3 by 2.5
    5. Add outstanding amount of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan made from 1/31/2020 to 4/3/2020 less advances
  • Loan Forgiveness Availability:
    • Employees are on the payroll for 8 weeks 
    • Money used for payroll, rent (lease dated before 2/15/2020), mortgage interest (obligation incurred before 2/15/2020), or utilities (service agreement before 2/15/2020)
    • 75% of loan forgiven must be used on payroll
    • Payroll includes:
      • Small business = Salary, wages, commission, cash tips, vacation / parental / family /medical / sick leave, allowance for separation / dismissal, employee benefits (health / retirement), state / local employment tax
      • Independent Contractor = wage, commission, income, or net earnings
    • Payroll doesn’t include: 
      • Employee with principal residence outside US
      • Salary over $100k (prorated)
      • Fed employment tax from 2/15/2020 to 6/30/2020
      • Qualified sick & family leave wages
    • To prove proper payments, lenders can rely on borrower’s documentation without any verification requirements
  • Application:
    • SBA Form 2483 (lender submits SBA Form 2484)
    • Applicant certifies that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the applicant.
    • Available from 4/3/2020 to 6/30/2020 or until exhausted
    • Borrower can only get 1 loan
    • First-come, first service
    • E-signature / consent permitted
  • Eligibility:
    • Must be small business, non-profit, independent contractor (sole proprietor)
    • Must have < 500 employees (certain exceptions if bigger) with principal place of residence in US
    • Must be in operations on 2/15/2020 with W2 employees
    • Must submit proof of eligibility of:
      • Payroll processor records
      • Payroll tax filings
      • Form 1099-Misc
      • Income & expenses for sole proprietorship
      • If don’t have above, bank records to demonstrate qualifying payroll
  • Ineligibility:
    • You are engaged in illegal activity under federal, state or local law (no legal marijuana) 
    • Household employer of nannies / housekeepers
    • Owner of 20% or more is incarcerated, on probation / parole, subject to indictment, criminal information, arraignment, or convicted of felony in last 5 years
    • Delinquent / defaults on SBA loan within last 7 years
  • Misuse Penalties:
    • Knowingly using loan for unauthorized purposes is fraud
    • False statements on application is up to 5 year imprisonment / up to $250K fine + up to 2 years imprisonment / up to $5K fine + up to 30 years imprisonment / up to $1MM fine
  • Lenders Fees Paid from SBA:
    • 5% of loans up to $350K
    • 3% of loans over $350K & less than $2MM
    • 1% of loans at least $2MM  
  • Agent Fees Paid by Lender from its Fees:
    • 1% of loans up to $350K
    • 0.5% of loans over $350K & less than $2MM
    • 0.25% of loans at least $2MM
·        Questions should be made to Lender Relations Specialist at the local SBA Field Office