Are PPP Loans Taxable?

Due to the adverse effects of COVID-19 on many small businesses nationwide, Congress announced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — commonly abbreviated as the CARES Act. The $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill ensures emergency assistance and health care response to people and small businesses facing unfortunate situations due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Chief among the Act’s provisions is an initiative to provide struggling business owners with loan assistance to cover operating costs. This initiative is called the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP.

What is the Paycheck Protection Program Loan?

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a loan program designed to grant quick and direct access to small business loans with 500 or fewer workers. The PPP loan’s main focus was to support employers with payroll and operational costs during business interruptions that occurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, borrowers could apply for PPP loan forgiveness.

The PPP has had a significant impact on small business owners struggling with their business during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020 alone, over $500 million in loans were granted to eligible businesses.

Although the PPP offered considerable help to these businesses, the tax implications linked with these loans have left many business owners questioning what to do next. As a result of the CARES Act, the tax guidelines passed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) went through several changes.

Later the rules related to PPP and taxes were revised again in December 2020 since the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) passed in 2021.

The PPP loan application duration was prolonged from July to August, then December, and then March 31, 2021. Now the new extension date is May 31, 2021.

 The PPP remains accessible for:

• Small businesses with 500 or fewer workers or small businesses that fulfill the SBA’s size requirements
• Restaurants or other businesses that lie within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 72, “Accommodation and Food Services,” — and employ fewer than 500 workers
• Tribal businesses
• 501(c)(19) veteran entities
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Sole proprietors, freelance contractors, gig economy workers, and otherwise self-employed people.

 Are PPP loans taxable?

Section 1106 (i) states, “the CARES Act provides that any amount that would be includible in the gross income of the recipient by reason of forgiveness of a PPP loan shall be excluded from gross income.”

One factor that makes the PPP appealing for businesses is the forgiveness provision. This provides loan forgiveness if the amount is used on the following expenses:

• Payroll expenditures
• Mortgage interest
• Utility bills
• Rent
• Operational expenses
• Property damage costs (because of public disruptions in 2020)
• Supplier prices
• Worker protection expenses

Businesses aren’t liable for taxes on the forgiven loan fund, according to an IRS Guide. It is expected that such loans might be forgiven. Businesses should plan strategies with their accountants for disbursing PPP loans on approved items.

Notably, a small business could be eligible for a second loan if they employ fewer than 300 workers and suffered a decrease in 25 percent of revenue during any quarter of 2020.

Is PPP loan forgiveness taxable?

As previously mentioned, Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness depends on whether the PPP loan has been spent on qualifying expenses. The Treasury Department has offered several PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications, which businesses can fill and submit to the private lender who offered the loan.

After passing the CRRSAA in December 2020, Congress declared that a PPP loan that has been forgiven would not be taxed — it is not categorized as taxable income.

This implies that you don’t have to pay taxes on the amount you obtain. This loan focuses on helping businesses with the cash to keep operating and paying workers. Congress specifically avoided causing tax stress for businesses receiving PPP loans.

Can PPP loans be used to pay business taxes?

Although the Small Business Administration (SBA) offered an extensive array of uses for PPP loans, they can not be used to pay business taxes. Small businesses not eligible for the PPP can still use other financing methods and carefully consider all logical sources.

The recent round of the CARES Act provides more room for small businesses to use PPP loans. Protective equipment, asset deterioration, and business software are among the latest costs covered in the PPP loan program. However, business taxes are still not included in that list. Business owners cannot pay income tax, sales tax, or any other tax with the PPP loan funds. Hence, the amount of PPP loan being used for paying business taxes will not be forgiven.

Business owners can opt for the Employee Retention Tax Credit if they fulfill the criteria. But they can not claim salaries paid with a PPP forgiven loan. To be eligible for the tax credit, a business must pay wages to workers regardless of a temporary halt due to the coronavirus lockdown or going through a 20% reduction in total receipts compared to the last year.

Employee Retention Credit and PPP loan interplay

In 2020, many business owners failed to qualify for the Employee Retention Credit due to the credit being mutually exclusive with the Paycheck Protection Program. This is no longer the case; you can now receive an Employee Retention Credit even if you took out a PPP loan.

Eligibility requirements were also loosened; last year, businesses needed to prove a 50% reduction in income compared to the same quarter in 2019. That threshold has been lowered to a mere 20%.

The potential amount of the Employee Retention Credit has increased as well. The initial credit only covered up to 50% of qualifying wages for businesses with up to 100 active employees. The updated credit covers up to 70% of qualifying income — plus health benefits cost — for businesses with up to 500 employees.

If your business didn’t claim the ERC in 2020 due to ineligibility, you can claim the credit retroactively based on the new requirements. 

Remember that if you need help with your business taxes, Community Tax can help you! Contact us today and get a free consultation.