The Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program Opens Today!
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Beginning today, small businesses and 501(c)(3) nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees can begin applying for a new forgivable loan to help maintain operations during the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this week, the U.S. Treasury Department published an
information sheet
on the new Paycheck Protection Program. This loan program, also known as the emergency SBA 7(a) loan program, was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which was signed into law last Friday.
Last night, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued
interim regulations
on how the program will work. The rule includes a five-step process (see page 8) for calculating payroll costs for the purpose of the loan. It also requires that, for the loans to be forgivable, at least 75% of each loan must be used to cover payroll expenses. The rule defines payroll costs as: “compensation to employees (whose principal place of residence is the United States) in the form of salary, wages, commissions, or similar compensation; cash tips or the equivalent (based on employer records of past tips or, in the absence of such records, a reasonable, good-faith employer estimate of such tips); payment for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave; allowance for separation or dismissal; payment for the provision of employee benefits consisting of group health care coverage, including insurance premiums, and retirement; payment of state and local taxes assessed on compensation of employees; and for an independent contractor or sole proprietor, wage, commissions, income, or net earnings from self-employment or similar compensation.” Notably, compensation in excess of $100,000, federal payroll taxes, and qualified paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act do not count as payroll costs for purposes of the loan.
The SBA also has released the
application form
that borrowers must use for the Paycheck Protection Program (SBA Form 2483). Note that the application form asks for the name of the business “owner.” Since nobody “owns” a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations can leave this line blank or write “N/A” or “nonprofit.”
Paycheck Protection Program loans, which are fully forgivable for organizations that maintain staff on payroll through June 30 (or rehire staff who have been furloughed or laid-off), can be used to cover up to 2 ½ months of payroll, rent, mortgage, or utilities. Loans must be made through private financial institutions, not directly through the SBA.
Nonprofits are encouraged to apply for emergency 7(a) loans as soon as possible. Although the deadline is June 30, the CARES Act only authorized a total of $349 billion in Payroll Protection Act loans, and many nonprofits and small businesses are interested in seeking these forgivable loans. It is possible, but not guaranteed, that Congress could appropriate additional funding if demand for these forgivable loans quickly exceeds the current cap of $349 billion.
Charitable nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees that are struggling to maintain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic also can apply for the low-interest emergency SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which is not forgivable but carries a 2.75% interest rate and long-term financing options. Nonprofits can
apply for EIDL loans
directly through the SBA. As part of the applications, nonprofits also may request an Emergency Economic Injury Grant of up to $10,000 that can be paid within three days (even if the organization ultimately does not qualify for an EIDL loan). Nonprofits may apply for both Paycheck Protection Act and EIDL loans (and are encouraged to apply for both as soon as possible) but may not use both loans to cover the same expenses.
To help your nonprofit understand which of these loan programs is the best option to help maintain your operations and payroll during the COVID-19 crisis, check out the
comparison chart
from the National Council of Nonprofits.
NAO has compiled are some Frequently Asked Questions on the Small Business Administration’s Payroll Protection Program.
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Frequently Asked Questions on:
Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program
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Q: Do I send the application form to the SBA?
A: No. The entire application process is done through a banking institution. If you are interested in submitting an application, you should contact your bank and ask if they are accredited to process the application. Not all banks in Oregon are. You can find a list of the
100 most active SBA 7(a) lenders here.
Q: On the form it asks of an owner. As a nonprofit, we don’t have owners, so what do we put there?
A: Simply put “nonprofit” or leave it blank or follow the instructions of your banker. Do not put the name of your ED or board chair. That may confuse the processing of your application.
Q: Are employee contributions included in the payroll and benefits calculations?
A: No. The form is clear that you need to exclude the employee contribution to benefits like insurance, parking, etc. Only include payroll and benefits that are employer paid only.
Q: Is the payroll average based on the most recently completed 12 months, or calendar 2019? For example, if a nonprofit is applying today, is the lookback period 4/1/19 – 3/31/20 or 1/1/19-12/31/19?
A: For purposes of calculating “Average Monthly Payroll,” most Applicants will use the average monthly payroll for 2019, excluding payroll costs over $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.
Q: We are a camp and do most of our programs in the summer. How do we calculate our average payroll when it varies so much depending on the time of year?
A: For seasonal businesses the Applicant may elect to instead use average monthly payroll for the period February 15, 2019 and June 30, 2019 excluding payroll costs over $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.
Q: Can we also include payments to subcontractors like bookkeepers or other people that regularly do work for us on a contract basis?
A: No. Each business is responsible to submit for their employees. Contractors are not your payroll employees. They can apply for this same program through their business entity.
Q: What if we are an orchestra and have almost all of our performers on 1099s?
A: Each of them would need to submit their own SBA PPP application as a sole proprietor.
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Check out these important upcoming online sessions to assist/support nonprofits:
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COVID-19 Strategy: How to Forecast Cash Flow in a Crisis on Friday, April 3 from 1 – 2 p.m. PT.
Sabrina Parson, CEO of Palo Alto Software based in Eugene is offering a free cash flow forecasting webinar. Click
here
for more information.
Ask The Expert Emergency SBA loans and how can nonprofits access them? Tuesday, April 7, Noon – 1 p.m. PT:
Scott Bossom, Senior Vice President of SBA Lending at Columbia Bank will provide an overview of emergency SBA loans as part of the COVID-19 federal stimulus package legislated recently. The package includes funding for “special emergency loans of up to $10 million for eligible nonprofits and small businesses, permitting them to cover costs of payroll, operations, and debt service, and provides that the loans be forgiven in whole or in part under certain circumstances.” What does this mean for Oregon nonprofits? Scott will address this, as well as answer your questions. Click here to
register
for the session.
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Thank you to the following SPONSORS and FUNDERS who are supporting NAO’s online COVID-19 events and communications during these challenging times. Their support is vital in helping NAO to bring much-needed resources and information to Oregon’s nonprofits – thank you.
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FRIEND PLUS PARTNER SPONSORS
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