The COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives across the country as officials struggle to curb its spread. As cities and states have put restrictions in place to slow infections, businesses of all kinds have felt the financial squeeze.
Certified public accountants have helped guide their clients through this troubling time as they try to navigate the sudden financial strain the pandemic has brought. The CARES Act provided some relief for businesses, dispersing more than $525 billion through the Paycheck Protection Program. As the time comes for businesses to apply for PPP loan forgiveness, CPAs can provide vital assistance to ensure success for their clients. Here are some things to keep in mind while helping clients with PPP loan forgiveness.
Do your clients qualify?
Your client was able to secure a PPP loan early on in the pandemic that helped them stay afloat. But, are they eligible for loan forgiveness now? This is an important question that business owners are counting on their accountant to make clear for them. CPAs need to keep their clients informed of the requirements throughout the loan process to ensure they qualify for full forgiveness. Keeping the right number of employees on the payroll and avoiding big payouts are important factors that will affect a business’s qualification for forgiveness. A CPA can help clients meet this and other requirements before submitting their application.
Completing forgiveness applications
It’s no surprise that PPP loans can be confusing, especially for business owners dealing with a mountain of stress just trying to keep food on the table for themselves and their employees. Having a good CPA on their side is an invaluable aid for business owners during these difficult times.
Kerry L. Myers is a clinical professor of forensic accounting and law at the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy at the University of South Florida. He is also assigned to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida. He earned his Juris Doctorate, with Distinction, from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting, Summa Cum Laude, from Central Missouri University. He is a licensed attorney in Missouri where he practiced law and was a federal prosecutor for many years. He recently retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he served as the supervisory special agent of the Technical Operations Squad.
Christine Andrews is a clinical professor in the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy at the University of South Florida, teaching courses in managerial and cost accounting, and business strategy. She has more than 30 years of experience teaching accounting, in addition to a previous career as a CPA. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University, and an MBA and bachelor's degree from the University of Buffalo. Andrews has published more than 20 times, including in the Journal of Accountancy and the CPA Journal. Her research interests include fraud hotline effectiveness, accounting for environmental liabilities, and other pedagogical issues.
Scott is passionate about developing and unlocking the potential in people, creating a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and succeed, and bringing this same passion to solving complex problems. He spent 15+ years at eBay where he was most recently Vice President of Customer Service Technology Solutions. He played a key role in expanding their operations in Utah and co-led the transformation of eBay’s global customer service with a focus on improving the customer experience while decreasing costs annually. Scott attended the University of New Mexico where he studied Business Administration.
Keeping track of expenses and documentation after the loan is received and getting the correct paperwork put together for the forgiveness application is essential. Make sure clients meet deadlines, turn in the correct forms, and stay in touch with their lender throughout the application process. Give clients the confidence that their application is thorough and accurate to give them the best chance of their loan being fully forgiven.
Staying on top of changes
Of course, the confusion that has occurred with the Paycheck Protection Program doesn’t belong just to borrowers. Some CPAs may find they have a few questions along the way as well. Lawmakers hurried to get financial assistance to cash-strapped businesses when COVID-19 shut down the country; there were bound to be a few snags and revisions to the program. The federal government has put out notices and questions and answers to clear up issues along the way, and changes have been made to the program as the pandemic raged on through the year. It’s up to CPAs to stay apprised of these changes and updates to FAQs so they can properly assist clients. There are still more questions to be answered, including tax issues, so this is a continual process.
CPAs can provide valuable assistance to their clients who are doing their best to stay in business in the midst of a pandemic. Stay informed about the PPP loan forgiveness process and give clients a reliable adviser in their corner to guide them through the process.
