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.
Steven L. Skancke, Ph.D., is chief economic adviser at Keel Point and a former White House and Treasury Department staff member.
Jeff is responsible for leading Simply Business's U.S. insurance product function, with a focus on advancing the company's mission of closing the coverage gap for small businesses through innovation and a customer-centric approach.
With nearly two decades of leadership experience, Jeff has a proven track record of developing and scaling digital insurance solutions at industry-leading companies, including Liberty Mutual, Plymouth Rock Assurance and Lemonade.
Throughout his career, he has specialized in leveraging technology to simplify complex coverage decisions and deliver robust, data-driven insurance products. An entrepreneur at heart, Jeff co-founded Sagewell Financial, a fintech company designed to help retirees navigate complex financial landscapes. This firsthand experience as a business owner provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges faced by the customers Simply Business serves.
Senate leaders will be trying to hold their parties together for a vote Thursday to advance a slimmed-down stimulus bill that Democrats have already rejected, with both sides jockeying for advantage in public perceptions two months before the election.
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.