On April 30, 2020, the IRS issued a Notice stating that for Federal income tax purposes, certain expenses that would otherwise be deductible in a taxpayer’s trade or business may not be deductible if the taxpayer received a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
Specifically, the IRS states that no deduction is allowed for an otherwise deductible expense if the expense’s payment resulted in forgiveness of the PPP loan pursuant to Section 1106(b) of the CARES Act. The income associated with the PPP loan forgiveness is also excluded from gross income pursuant to Section 1106(i) of the CARES Act.
For example, if a business received $400,000 in PPP loan proceeds and used the proceeds to pay $350,000 in payroll expense, $50,000 in qualifying rent and utility payments, and met all other applicable terms and conditions within the 8-week applicable period, the entire $400,000 would be forgiven. Therefore, the $400,000 PPP loan proceeds are not included in gross income. However, the $400,000 in payroll, rent, and utility expenses would also not be deductible for Federal income tax purposes.
For additional questions related to the taxability of specific income and expenses in relation to the PPP loan forgiveness, please contact BMD Tax Law Attorney Tracy Albanese at tlalbanese@bmdllc.com or (330) 253-9195.