PPP Loan Forgiveness FAQs

For helpful links and videos to guide you in the forgiveness application process click here.


Key Information Regarding Your PPP Loan: 

  • LOAN TERMS: For loans made before June 5, 2020, the maturity is two years.
  • COVERED PERIOD: The Flexibility Act extended the "loan forgiveness covered period" from 8 weeks to 24 weeks beginning on the date the PPP loan was disbursed. However, if a PPP loan was made before June 5, 2020, the borrower may elect to use the eight-week period beginning on the date the PPP loan was disbursed.
  • DEFERRAL PERIOD: The Flexibility Act also extended the payment deferral period to up to approximately 10 months.
  • USE OF FUNDS: The minimum amount of the loan proceeds needed to be spent on payroll is 60%, with the maximum amount of funds available for other expenses is 40%.
  • EMPLOYEE REHIRE: Extension of the Safe Harbor date to rehire employees from June 30, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The Safe Harbor rules state that if employees are rehired by December 31, 2020, their salaries count towards forgiveness and the borrower is not penalized. In addition, there was an easing of the rehire requirements, but additional guidance is needed to provide details.
  • Deadline: The current program deadline is March 31, 2021; however, we would like to encourage you to submit your application and supporting documentation as early as possible.

Are there any restrictions on how I can use the funds?

The SBA has placed restrictions on the use of these loan funds for specified purposes, which includes that a certain percentage of the funds be used for payroll costs (as defined by the SBA). An example is that you can't use these loan proceeds to pay mortgage principal or pre-payments. To make sure you use loan proceeds properly, you may want to review and modify any automatic payments, such as ACH, for the account holding these loan proceeds.

Also, the SBA has issued guidance for borrowers on if, when, and how they can obtain forgiveness of all or a portion of the loan. Please continue to review program details at SBA.gov and Treasury.gov, which may be updated from time to time, including descriptions of eligible uses of loan proceeds and rules concerning forgiveness, as well as the other topics covered.


I was contacted by a company offering PPP loan forgiveness services. Should I consider using these services?

In accordance with a federal judge’s order, on Dec. 1 the SBA released the names, addresses, and precise loan amounts of all PPP and EIDL borrowers. This data included the name of the lender making the PPP or EIDL. With this information now in the public realm, entrepreneurial third parties have begun directly contacting borrowers offering PPP loan forgiveness services. WestStar is not affiliated with these companies and any communication you may receive has not been sent or approved by WestStar. If you use a third party to assist you with forgiveness, please ensure you know the business. Use of a third party is not necessary to complete your forgiveness application with WestStar Bank.


Can I submit one loan forgiveness request for related entities with different PPP loans?

As each entity has a separate loan number, each will require a separate loan forgiveness request.

How does a borrower have their entire PPP loan forgiven?

The borrower will not be responsible for any loan payment if:

  1. The borrower uses all loan proceeds for forgivable purposes, and
  2. Employee and compensation levels are maintained.

The amount of loan forgiveness can be up to the full principal amount of the loan and any accrued interest provided funds are used for covered expenses. At least 60% of the loan forgiveness amount must be attributed to payroll costs. Not more than 40% of the loan forgiveness amount may be attributable to non-payroll costs.

If my loan is not fully forgiven, will the interest due be on the total loan amount or on the unforgiven portion of the loan?

If only a portion of the loan is forgiven, or if the forgiveness application is denied, any remaining balance due on the loan must be repaid by the borrower on or before the maturity date of the loan. Interest accrues during the time between the disbursement of the loan and SBA remittance of the forgiveness amount. The borrower is responsible for paying the accrued interest on any amount of the loan that is not forgiven. The lender is responsible for notifying the borrower of remittance by SBA of the loan forgiveness amount (or that SBA determined that no amount of the loan is eligible for forgiveness) and the date on which the borrower’s first payment is due, if applicable.

When can I apply for PPP loan forgiveness?

Links to the forgiveness application for all PPP loan clients have been sent out. If you did not receive your link please email us at PPPForgiveness@weststarbank.com

There are three PPP loan forgiveness applications: the 3508, 3508EZ, and 3508S. Which one is right for me?

Form 3508S may be used if the borrower received a PPP Loan of $50,000 or less and the borrower together with its affiliates did not receive PPP loans totaling $2 million or greater.

Form 3508EZ applies to borrowers who meet any one of these three criteria:

  • Applied for the PPP loan as self-employed, an independent contractor or a sole proprietor with no employees.
  • Did not reduce salary or wages for any employee by more than 25% during the covered period (or alternative payroll covered period) compared to the period between January 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees between January 1, 2020 and the end of the covered period (excepting laid-off employees who refused an offer to return).
  • Did not reduce salary or wages for any employee by more than 25% during the covered period (or alternative payroll covered period) compared to the period between January 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 and was unable to operate during the covered period at the same level of as before February 15, 2020 as a result of health directives related to COVID-19.


What is the general process to obtain loan forgiveness?

To receive loan forgiveness, a borrower must complete and submit the Loan Forgiveness Application (SBA Form 3508, SBA Form 3508EZ, and SBA Form 3508S or lender equivalent) to its lender (or the lender servicing its loan). As a general matter, the lender will review the application and make a decision regarding loan forgiveness.

  • The lender has 60 days from receipt of a complete application to issue a decision to SBA.
  • If the lender determines that the borrower is entitled to forgiveness of some or all of the amount applied for under the statute and applicable regulations, the lender must request payment from SBA at the time the lender issues its decision to SBA.
  • SBA will, subject to any SBA review of the loan or loan application, remit the appropriate forgiveness amount to the lender, plus any interest accrued through the date of payment, not later than 90 days after the lender issues its decision to SBA.
  • If applicable, SBA will deduct EIDL Advance Amounts from the forgiveness amount remitted to the Lender as required by section 1110(e)(6) of the CARES Act.
  • If SBA determines in the course of its review that the borrower was ineligible for the PPP loan based on the provisions of the CARES Act, SBA rules or guidance available at the time of the borrower’s loan application, or the terms of the borrower’s PPP loan application (for example, because the borrower lacked an adequate basis for the certifications that it made in its PPP loan application), the loan will not be eligible for loan forgiveness.
  • The lender is responsible for notifying the borrower of the forgiveness amount.
  • If only a portion of the loan is forgiven, or if the forgiveness request is denied, any remaining balance due on the loan must be repaid by the borrower on or before the maturity of the loan.
  • If the amount remitted by SBA to the lender exceeds the remaining principal balance of the PPP loan (because the borrower made scheduled payments on the loan after the initial deferment period), the lender must remit the excess amount, including accrued interest, to the borrower.
  • The general loan forgiveness process described above applies only to loan forgiveness applications that are not reviewed by SBA prior to the lender’s decision on the forgiveness application.

In a separate interim final rule on SBA Loan Review Procedures and Related Borrower and Lender Responsibilities, SBA describes its procedures for reviewing PPP loan applications and loan forgiveness applications.

What documentation will I need when I submit my loan forgiveness request?

Based on your disbursement date, you will receive a link to our online PPP loan forgiveness application. Below is a list of some of the documentation you will need to provide as part of the forgiveness application process.

Payroll Costs: Documentation verifying the eligible cash compensation and non-cash benefit payments from the Covered Period or the Alternative Payroll Covered Period consisting of each of the following:

  • Bank account statements or third-party payroll service provider reports documenting the amount of cash compensation paid to employees.
  • Tax forms (or equivalent third-party payroll service provider reports)for the periods that overlap with the Covered Period or the Alternative Payroll Covered Period:
    • Payroll tax filings reported, or that will be reported, to the IRS (typically, Form 941); and
    • State quarterly business and individual employee wage reporting and unemployment insurance tax filings reported, or that will be reported, to the relevant state.
  • Payment receipts, cancelled checks, or account statements documenting the amount of any employer contributions to employee health insurance and retirement plans that the Borrower included in the forgiveness amount.

Non-Payroll Costs: Documentation verifying existence of the obligations/services prior to February 15, 2020 and eligible payments from the Covered Period.

  • Business mortgage interest payments:Lender account statements from February 2020 and the months of the Covered Period through one month after the end of the Covered Period verifying interest amounts and eligible payments; or copy of lender amortization schedule and receipts or cancelled checks verifying eligible payments from the Covered Period.
  • Business rent or lease payments:Copy of current lease agreement and receipts or cancelled checks verifying eligible payments from the Covered Period; or lessor account statements from February 2020 and from the Covered Period through one month after the end of the Covered Period verifying eligible payments.
  • Business utility payments:Copy of invoices from February 2020 and those paid during the Covered Period and receipts, cancelled checks, or account statements verifying those eligible payments.

Number of Employees: You will need to provide the total number of employees at the time you are applying for loan forgiveness.

You must retain all such documentation for six years after the date the loan is forgiven or repaid in full, and permit authorized representatives of SBA, including representatives of its Office of Inspector General, to access such files upon request.

How is the forgiveness amount calculated?

Use the SBA loan forgiveness form to calculate the amount of loan forgiveness. The actual amount of loan forgiveness depends, in part, on payments made over the twenty-four-week period following the disbursement of loan funds, including:

  1. The total amount of payroll costs,
  2. Payments of interest on mortgage obligations incurred before February 15, 2020,
  3. Rent payments on leases dated before February 15, 2020, and
  4. Utility payments under service agreements dated before February 15, 2020, and
  5. Retention of full-time equivalent employees.


How will employment levels and employee retention be calculated for forgiveness?

Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if:

  1. Full-time headcount declines, or
  2. Salaries and wages decrease.

The loan forgiveness form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:

  • Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles.
  • Flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the 24-week period after receiving their PPP loan
  • Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness
  • Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by December 31, 2020.
  • Exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined.


How much of the loan forgiveness must be attributable to payroll costs?

As updated with the passing of the PPP Flexibility Act, at least 60% of the loan forgiveness amount must be attributed to payroll costs. Not more than 40% of the loan forgiveness amount may be attributable to non-payroll costs.

Are payroll costs incurred, but not paid, during the covered period eligible for forgiveness?

Payroll costs incurred but not paid during the Borrower’s last pay period of the Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period are eligible for forgiveness if paid on or before the next regular payroll date. Otherwise, payroll costs must be paid during the Covered Period (or Alternative Payroll Covered Period).

  • Payroll costs are considered paid on the day that paychecks are distributed or the Borrower originates an ACH credit transaction.
  • Payroll costs are considered incurred on the day that the employee’s pay is earned.

Count payroll costs that were both paid and incurred only once. For information on what qualifies as payroll costs, see Interim Final Rule on Paycheck Protection Program posted on April 2, 2020 (85 FR 20811). For each individual employee, the total amount of cash compensation eligible for forgiveness may not exceed an annual salary of $100,000, as prorated for the covered period.

Are salary, wages, or commission payments to furloughed employees; bonuses; or hazard pay during the covered period eligible for loan forgiveness?

Yes. The CARES Act defines the term “payroll costs” broadly to include compensation in the form of salary, wages, commissions, or similar compensation.

  • Furloughed Employees.If a borrower pays furloughed employees their salary, wages, or commissions during the covered period, those payments are eligible for forgiveness as long as they do not exceed an annual salary of $100,000, as prorated for the covered period.
  • Inability to Work due to Public Health, Low Demand.Borrowers may continue paying their employees even if those employees are not able to perform their day-to-day duties, whether due to lack of economic demand or public health considerations.
  • Hazard Pay and Bonuses.If an employee’s total compensation does not exceed $100,000 on an annualized basis, the employee’s hazard pay and bonuses are eligible for loan forgiveness because they constitute a supplement to salary or wages, and are thus a similar form of compensation.

Can PPP loan funds be used for temporary staffing or for an employee hired to replace a regular employee who was out for the CARES Act?

Temporary employees do not count as employees of a company that hires them through a temp agency.  The temp agency would be their employer and would count as an employee on the agency’s payroll. As of today, we have no additional guidance that allows PPP funds to be used for temporary employees. As the borrower, you can use the funds for whatever you deem appropriate. However, funds used for costs other than payroll of your employees, rent, interest on mortgages, and utilities, may not be forgiven.


I have an employee who received 80 hours of pay due to their positive COVID-19 result as per the CARES Act requirements. May I continue to pay them with PPP loan funds and remain compliant with the loan terms?

If the employee is paid with sick leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), it should not be counted as part of the payroll costs you (the employer) are paying with funds from the PPP loan as it is specifically excluded from the definition. If you continue to have the employee on payroll they recuperate, the funds from the PPP loan can continue to be used to cover their salary or any other sick leave not covered by the FFCRA.


If I had some employees resign, will my loan forgiveness amount be reduced?  

If employees voluntarily resigns, are fired for cause, or voluntarily requests a schedule reduction this will not be counted against the employer. If this happens, you may count such employees at the same full-time equivalency level before the FTE reduction event when calculating the reduction penalty. However, you may be required to provide documentation upon request. We strongly recommend you keep documentation to support the employee’s resignation. You may choose to rehire and replace the employee if you like, but this must be done by December 31, 2020.

Can I avoid a loan forgiveness amount reduction if I restore reductions made to employee salaries and wages or FTE employees by December 31, 2020?

Yes. If the borrower eliminates these reductions by December 31, 2020 or earlier, the borrower is exempt from any reduction in loan forgiveness amount that would otherwise be required in this program.


Loan Necessity Questionnaire

Why are some PPP borrowers receiving a Loan Necessity Questionnaire (SBA Form 3509 or 3510)?

As previously announced, SBA is reviewing all loans of $2 million or more, and other loans as appropriate, for eligibility, fraud or abuse, and compliance with loan forgiveness requirements. As part of this process, SBA is providing a Loan Necessity Questionnaire to lenders for them to provide to PPP borrowers that, together with their affiliates, received loans of $2 million or more. Upon request from their lender, borrowers should return the completed questionnaire to their lender within 10 business days of receipt.

The information that borrowers provide on the questionnaire will help SBA assess those borrowers’ certification in their loan application that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant,” as required by the CARES Act.

A request to complete the Loan Necessity Questionnaire does not mean that SBA is challenging a borrower’s certification that is required by the CARES Act. SBA’s assessment of a borrower’s certification will be based on the totality of the borrower’s circumstances through a multi-factor analysis. SBA will assess whether the borrower had adequate basis for making the required good-faith certification, based on its individual circumstances in light of the language of the certification and SBA guidance. This certification is required to have been made in good faith at the time of the loan application, even if subsequent developments resulted in the loan no longer being necessary. In its review, SBA may take into account the borrower’s circumstances and actions both before and after the borrower’s certification to the extent that doing so will assist SBA in determining whether the borrower made the statutorily required certification in good faith at the time of its loan application.

After a borrower submits its completed questionnaire, SBA may request additional information, if necessary, to complete its review. When additional information is requested, borrowers will have an opportunity to provide a narrative response to SBA explaining the circumstances that provided the basis for their good-faith loan necessity certification. SBA will make a final determination that a borrower lacked an adequate basis for its loan necessity certification after reviewing any additional information that a borrower chooses to submit. This targeted, multi-step approach will ensure the integrity of the evaluation process and expeditious processing, as well as properly allocate SBA’s finite resources to those loans that require additional review.



Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) FAQs

 

SBA will deduct the amount of any Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advance received by a PPP borrower from the forgiveness amount remitted to the lender. How will a lender know the amount of the EIDL advance that will be automatically deducted by SBA?

If a borrower received an EIDL advance, SBA is required to reduce the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount by the amount of the EIDL advance. SBA will deduct the amount of the EIDL advance from the forgiveness amount remitted by SBA to the lender. The lender will be able to confirm the amount of the EIDL advance that will be automatically deducted by SBA from the forgiveness payment by reviewing the borrower’s EIDL advance information in the PPP Forgiveness Platform.

Loan Forgiveness Payroll Costs FAQs

 

Are payroll costs that were incurred before the Covered Period but paid during the Covered Period eligible for loan forgiveness?

Yes. Example: A borrower received its loan before June 5, 2020 and elects to use a 24-week Covered Period. The borrower’s Covered Period runs from Monday, April 20 through Sunday, October 4. The borrower has a biweekly payroll cycle, with a payroll cycle ending on Saturday, April 18. The borrower will not make the corresponding payroll payment until Friday, April 24. While these payroll costs were not incurred during the Covered Period, they were paid during the Covered Period and are therefore eligible for loan forgiveness.

For purposes of calculating cash compensation, should borrowers use the gross amount before deductions for taxes, employee benefits payments, and similar payments, or the net amount paid to employees?

The gross amount should be used when calculating cash compensation.


What expenses for group health care benefits will be considered payroll costs that are eligible for loan forgiveness?

Employer expenses for employee group health care benefits that are paid or incurred by the borrower during the Covered Period or the Alternative Payroll Covered Period are payroll costs eligible for loan forgiveness. However, payroll costs do not include expenses for group health care benefits paid by employees (or beneficiaries of the plan) either pre-tax or after tax, such as the employee share of their health care premium. Forgiveness is not provided for expenses for group health benefits accelerated from periods outside the Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period

If a borrower has an insured group health plan, insurance premiums paid or incurred during the Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period qualify as “payroll costs,” as long as the premiums are paid during the applicable period or by the next premium due date after the end of the applicable period. As noted, only the portion of the premiums paid by the borrower for coverage during the applicable Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period is included, not any portion paid by employees or beneficiaries or any portion paid for coverage for periods outside the applicable period.

What contributions for retirement benefits will be considered payroll costs that are eligible for loan forgiveness?

Generally, employer contributions for employee retirement benefits that are paid or incurred by the borrower during the Covered Period or Alternative Payroll Covered Period qualify as “payroll costs” eligible for loan forgiveness. The employer contributions for retirement benefits included in the loan forgiveness amount as payroll costs cannot include any retirement contributions deducted from employees’ pay or otherwise paid by employees. Forgiveness is not provided for employer contributions for retirement benefits accelerated from periods outside the Covered Period or Alternative Covered Period. Loan Forgiveness Payroll Costs.

 

Loan Forgiveness Non-Payroll Costs FAQs

Are nonpayroll costs incurred prior to the Covered Period, but paid during the Covered Period, eligible for loan forgiveness?

Yes, eligible business mortgage interest costs, eligible business rent or lease costs, and eligible business utility costs incurred prior to the Covered Period and paid during the Covered Period are eligible for loan forgiveness.

Are nonpayroll costs incurred during the Covered Period, but paid after the Covered Period, eligible for loan forgiveness?

Nonpayroll costs are eligible for loan forgiveness if they were incurred during the Covered Period and paid on or before the next regular billing date, even if the billing date is after the Covered Period.

Is interest on unsecured credit eligible for loan forgiveness?

No. Payments of interest on business mortgages on real or personal property (such as an auto loan) are eligible for loan forgiveness. Interest on unsecured credit is not eligible for loan forgiveness because the loan is not secured by real or personal property. Although interest on unsecured credit incurred before February 15, 2020 is a permissible use of PPP loan proceeds, this expense is not eligible for forgiveness.

Covered utility payments, which are eligible for forgiveness, include a “payment for a service for the distribution of . . . transportation” under the CARES Act. What expenses does this category include?

A service for the distribution of transportation refers to transportation utility fees assessed by state and local governments. Payment of these fees by the borrower is eligible for loan forgiveness.

Should you have any questions, please contact your your relationship manager or visit sba.gov and treasury.gov for the latest loan guidance and information.