Small businesses that manage to get their Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven may find themselves losing valuable tax breaks, according to new guidance from the Internal Revenue Service.
Companies that qualify for loan forgiveness under legislation Congress approved won’t be able to deduct the wages or other businesses expenses they paid for using the loan, according to an IRS notice published Thursday.
“This treatment prevents a double tax benefit,” the agency said in the notice. “This conclusion is consistent with prior guidance of the IRS.”
The guidance clarifies a point of confusion in the $670 billion small business loan program to help businesses struggling as the coronavirus has brought the economy to a standstill. The law states that the forgiven loan won’t be taxed, but didn’t specify whether companies could still write off the expenses they covered with that money.
Ben Turner is CEO of Verituity, which provides payment verification services.
Lance Mason is a distinguished accounting professional and licensed CPA known for his ability to bring clarity to complex financial topics. He began his career at Ernst & Young, where he built a strong foundation in public accounting before moving into the startup ecosystem. There he has applied his deep expertise in ERP systems like Oracle NetSuite to help these startups scale. An engaging speaker, he combines practical experience, technical acumen, and a forward-thinking vision to deliver insights that resonate with accounting professionals and business leaders alike. His storytelling approach not only demystifies accounting concepts but also inspires a broader conversation about the future of capital markets.
Harish Kapur is the president and CEO of Across America Insurance Services, a specialized wholesale insurance brokerage serving the specific needs of the commercial trucking and transportation industry, including E&S service offerings.
The tax code permits companies to write off businesses expenses, such as wages, rent and transportation expenses, but generally doesn’t allow write-offs for tax-exempt income.
The ruling adds to the list of stumbling blocks facing businesses as they try to qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Small businesses have reported technical issues in trying to apply for the funds, which restarted Monday after the first round of funding ran out after just 13 days.
The program, run by the Small Business Administration, provides funds to cover eight weeks of payroll costs and the loans are forgiven if the employers keep workers on the job or quickly rehire laid-off workers.