CARES Act
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness FAQ1
April 7, 2020

1. How is the forgiveness amount calculated?

Forgiveness is equal to the sum of the following costs incurred and payments made
during the 8-week period beginning on the date of origination of the loan (“8-week
Covered Period”), proportionate to maintaining employees and wages:
• “Payroll Costs” (as further defined below)
• Interest payments on any mortgage obligation incurred before 2/15/20
• Rent payments on real or personal property leases entered into prior to 2/15/20
• Utility payments on services started prior to February 15, 2020

2. What Constitutes Payroll Costs?

• Salary, wage, commission, or similar compensation (not in excess of an annualized salary of $100,000);
• Cash tip or equivalent;
• Vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave;
• Payment required for the provision of group health care benefits, including insurance
premiums;
• Payment of any retirement benefit;
• Payment of state or local taxes assessed on the compensation of employees.

3. What is excluded from “Payroll Costs”?

• Compensation of an employee whose principal place of residence is outside the
United States;
• Compensation paid to an employee in excess of an annual salary of $100,000 (with
annual salary up to $100,000 to such employee included);
• Federal employment taxes;
• Qualified sick and family leave wages for which a credit is allowed under the
Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
1 This FAQ does not constitute legal advice and is subject to change based upon the issuance of new guidance and/or change in laws.

4. What is the maximum amount of forgivable
non-Payroll Costs?

Payroll Costs must make up no less than 75% of the expenditure; the remaining up to
25% can be spent on non-Payroll Costs, including rent, utilities and mortgage interest
(see question #1 above).

5. When does the 8-week forgiveness period
start?

The 8-week Covered Period begins on the date the PPP loan is disbursed to the entity.

6. Do reductions in staffing affect the amount
of loan forgiveness?

Yes. The amount forgiven is reduced proportionally by any reduction in employees
retained compared to a previous period using the following formula:
Loan Forgiveness Amount X
Average # of full-time employees (FTEs) per month
during 8-week Covered Period
Average # of FTEs per month employed from
2/15/19 – 6/30/19 OR 1/1/20 – 2/29/20 (at
borrower’s election)
Here is an example:
1. Loan Forgiveness Amount = $100,000 (Payroll Costs ($75,000) + Mortgage
($5,000) + Rent ($15,000) + Utilities ($5,000) = $100,000)
2. Average FTEs per month during 8-Week Cover Period = 30
3. Average FTEs per month from 2/15/19 – 6/30/19 = 50; OR
4. Average FTEs per month from 1/1/20 – 2/29/20 = 40
Since 40 FTEs is more favorable to the borrower than 50, #4 is selected as the
denominator in above formula.
TOTAL = $75,000 forgiveness, or 75% after reductions ($100,000 x �55349;�57297;�55349;�57297;�55349;�57297;�55349;�57297;
�55349;�57298;�55349;�57298;�55349;�57298;�55349;�57298; = $75,000)

7. Can I reduce the number of employees and
still be eligible for forgiveness?

Yes, however, per the equation in Question #6 directly above, a reduction will result in
less than 100% debt forgiveness.

8. Do reductions in compensation affect the
amount of loan forgiveness?

Yes. Any reduction during the 8-Week Covered Period in excess of 25% of total salary
paid to an employee in the most recent full quarter before the covered period will result
in a dollar-for- dollar reduction (for the amount in excess of 25%) in loan forgiveness.
• A reduction in the salary of an employee who makes more than $100,000 annually
will not cause a reduction in the forgiveness amount, regardless of whether such
reduction is in excess of 25%.
• Employee salaries reduced between 2/15/20 and 4/26/20 must be restored by
6/30/2020 in order to avoid a reduction in the amount eligible for forgiveness.

9. What if I already laid off employees?

If you reduced the number of your employees between February 15, 2020 and April 26,
2020, those reductions will not decrease the amount of loan forgiveness you receive if
you rehire those employees by June 30, 2020 (the deadline set by the CARES Act).

10. Some employees I need to rehire are no
longer available, do I get credit for filling
position with a new employee?

Yes. There is no requirement to rehire the same employees. Hiring full-time equivalent
employees is sufficient.

11 . Can I defer payments on my PPP loan?

You will not have to make any payments for six months following the date of
disbursement of the loan. However, interest will continue to accrue during this sixmonth deferment.

12. Am I responsible for interest on the
forgiven loan amount?

No. You are not responsible for any accrued interest on the portion of the loan that is
forgiven.

13. Do I have to pay fees on the loan?

No. You will not have to pay any fees on the loan.

14. How do I apply to get forgiveness on my
PPP loan?

You must prepare and submit an application with your lender who is responsible for its
review and processing.

15. What documents do I need to apply for
loan forgiveness?

You will need to provide:
• Documentation verifying the number of employees on payroll and pay rates,
including IRS payroll tax filings and State income, payroll and unemployment
insurance filings;
• Documentation verifying payments on covered mortgage obligations, lease
obligations, and utilities;
• A certification that the documentation is true and correct and that the amount that is
being forgiven was used in accordance with the program’s guidelines for use;
• Any other documentation the SBA determines necessary.

16. When will the debt forgiveness be applied
to the loan?

The forgiveness should be applied to the loan during the initial deferral period.

17. When will I learn the loan has been
forgiven?

The lender must issue a decision regarding loan forgiveness within 60 days
after receiving your application for loan forgiveness, during which time interest
continues to accrue.

18. What happens with any balance that
remains after the portion is forgiven?

Any balance remaining on the loan will be amortized over what remains of the original
2-year term once the 6 month deferral period has ended.

19. What is the interest rate on the remaining
balance, if any?

The PPP loan features a 2-year term with interest capped at 1% and a 100% loan
guarantee by the SBA.

20. Do I have to provide collateral or a
personal guaranty?

No. There are no collateral requirements and the SBA’s personal guaranty requirement is
waived.

21. Can I count my own salary towards loan
forgiveness if I am a sole proprietor or
independent contractor?

Yes. If you are an individual who operates under a sole proprietorship or as an
independent contractor, you may include wage, commissions, income, or net earnings
from self-employment or similar compensation as Payroll Costs.

22. Can I include payments to 1099 and
independent contractor workers for
purposes of loan forgiveness?

No. Independent contractors have the ability to apply for a PPP loan on their own, so
they do not count for purposes of a borrower’s PPP loan calculation.

23. What happens if I misuse the PPP loan
funds?

The SBA will direct you to repay misused amounts. If . Is the PPP “first-come, first-served”? you knowingly use the funds for
unauthorized purposes, you will be subject to additional liability such as charges for
fraud. The SBA will also have recourse against a shareholder, member, or partner of
borrower for the unauthorized use.

24. Are forgiven amounts considered
cancellation of indebtedness income for
federal tax purposes?

No. Unlike normal circumstance where canceled debt is taxable, cancellation of
indebtedness income will not apply to loan forgiveness.

25. Is the PPP “first-come, first-served”?

Yes.

Is there a deadline to file for a PPP loan?

Yes. Presently, all PPP loans must be made on or before June 30, 2020 or until the funds
made available for PPP are exhausted. Since the loans are on a “first-come-first-served
basis”, borrowers should consider reaching out to a lending bank or commercial loan broker as soon as possible.

27. Where can I apply for a PPP loan?

You can apply through any existing SBA lender or through any federally insured
depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution
that is participating. Other regulated lenders and commercial loan brokers will be available to make these loans once
they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local
lender or commercial loan broker as to whether it is participating. Visit https://www.sba.gov/ for a list of SBA

***Cardinal Business Financing, Inc., its afilliates and related parties do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction***

 
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