Trump Signs New Law Easing PPP Loan Requirements

Last week, President Trump signed into law a new bill that effectively relaxes Paycheck Protection Program loan requirements for many small businesses—the Paycheck Protection Forgiveness Act. 

The law allows businesses a bit more leeway concerning where the money coming from the loans, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, are spent, as well as a few other key points. Here’s what you need to know: 

• Businesses now have 24 weeks to spend funds from the loans. The period was previously 8 weeks. 
• To be eligible for loan forgiveness, businesses must spend at least 60% of the loan on payroll costs. The amount was originally 75%. This was one of the biggest complaints from businesses regarding the loans. 
• The payback period for the loans for those businesses who are not seeking or are ineligible for loan forgiveness is now 5 years, an increase from the original period of 2 years. 
• The act pushes back the deadline to rehire employees until December 31—originally June 30. 
• It also eases forgiveness on rehiring requirements for employees. Your business can still be forgiven for loan amounts if one of the following statements are true: 
  • You can prove you were unable to rehire an employee who worked for the company on or before February 15, 2020
  • You can prove you were unable to hire a similarly qualified employee to those who worked for the company on or before December 31, 2020
  • You can prove you were unable to return to the same level of business activity as you were operating at prior to February 15, 2020