GMR 118: CARES Act: What You Need to Know
Episode 118
The Coronavirus pandemic has had significant health and economic impact in the United States. As a way to help shore up and maintain financial stability, Congress has passed the CARES Act bill. It is designed to keep workers paid and employed, fund health care systems enhancements, and provide for economic stabilization. In this episode of Getting Money Right, we break down the specifics of the CARES Act and how it will impact you.
Show Notes
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act)
H. R. 748
https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr748/BILLS-116hr748enr.pdf
TITLE I—KEEPING AMERICAN WORKERS PAID AND EMPLOYED ACT
TITLE II—ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICAN WORKERS, FAMILIES, AND BUSINESSES
TITLE III—SUPPORTING AMERICA’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS
TITLE IV—ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AND ASSISTANCE TO SEVERELY DISTRESSED SECTORS OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY
Overview
Direct Payment to Individuals.
Small Business Loans / Forgiveness.
Unemployment Assistance.
1. Direct Payment to Individuals
Recovery Rebate for individual taxpayers.
$1,200 refundable tax credit for individuals ($2,400 for joint taxpayers).
$500 for each child.
Not be counted as taxable income for recipients, as the rebate is a credit against tax liability and is refundable for taxpayers with no tax liability to offset.
Phases out at:
$75,000 for singles.
$112,500 for heads of household.
$150,000 for married filing jointly.
Direct deposit to begin April 9, 2020.
Check distribution for IRS filers without direct deposit
The IRS plan would distribute paper checks to the lowest-income Americans first, prioritizing payments for individual taxpayers with incomes of
$10,000 or less on April 24, 2020.
$20,000 or less would be in the mail May 1, 2020.
followed by those with incomes of $30,000 on May 8, 2020.
$40,000 on May 15, 2020.
and continuing in income increments of $10,000 each week, according to the plan.
The IRS plans to issue about 5 million checks each week.
Stimulus checks would be issued on Sept. 4 to joint taxpayers earning $198,000, the maximum allowed under the stimulus.
All others would be sent on Sept. 11, in most cases because the IRS did not have prior tax information for them and they need to apply for the checks.
2. Small Business Loans / Forgiveness
$350 billion allocated for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is meant to help small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) impacted by the pandemic and economic downturn to make payroll and cover other expenses from February 15 to June 30. Notably, small businesses may take out loans up to $10 million—limited to a formula tied to payroll costs—and can cover employees making up to $100,000 per year.
Paycheck Protection Program - PPP
Small Businesses.
Non-profits (must be 501c3).
Veterans Organizations.
Tribal Business.
500 or fewer employees.
“Covered loans” are loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program during the period from the date of enactment through June 30, 2020.
Churches without an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter could potentially face challenges in the application process, subject to further SBA guidance
The maximum loan amount is 2.5x the average monthly payroll costs for the one-year period preceding the date of the loan or $10 million, whichever is less
Payroll costs include:
Salaries and other wages
Employer-paid health care benefits
Employer-paid retirement benefits
Employer-paid state and local payroll taxes (not federal taxes)
Loan funds may be used for:
Payroll costs (see definition above)
Paid sick, medical, or family leave
Mortgage interest (but not principal)
Interest on other debt obligations incurred before February 15, 2020
Rent
Utilities
Loan underwriting requirements:
The borrower was in operation on February 15, 2020
The borrower had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes or independent contractors as reported on Form 1099-MISC as of February 15, 2020
The borrower must make a “good faith certification”:
That the uncertainty of current economic conditions makes necessary the loan request to support the ongoing operations of the borrower.
Acknowledging that loan funds will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage payments, lease payments, and utility payments.
That the borrower does not have an application pending for a duplicative loan.
Loan forgiveness
The borrower is eligible for forgiveness of the loan.
The amount eligible for forgiveness is the amount spent during the 8-week period beginning on the date of the loan for:
Payroll costs (see definition above).
Mortgage interest payments for loans incurred before February 15, 2020.
Rent for leasing arrangements in force before February 15, 2020.
Utilities (including electricity, gas, water, transportation costs, telephone, or internet access for which service began before February 15, 2020).
Repayment for the amount not forgiven:
Payments deferred for at least 6 months…up to 1 year.
Maximum maturity of 10 years.
Interest rate not to exceed 4%.
No prepayment penalty.
3. Unemployment Assistance
Unemployment insurance provisions now include an additional $600 per week payment to each recipient for up to four months, and extend UI benefits to self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with limited work history.
Ex: Texas unemployment assistance current max is $521 per week. If someone qualifies for the max, the bill increases the benefit by $600 per week, raising the unemployment assistance to $1121 per week.
Encouraging Generosity
Charitable Contribution Deduction Limits Increased
Cash contributions made by individual taxpayers in 2020 to public charities are subject to a limit of 100% of adjusted gross income – not the 60% limit that regularly applies.
Resources
Budget Forms and Tools
David’s New Book - Jesus on Money
David’s New Website - www.stewardshippastors.com