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SBA CLARIFIES PPP ‘GOOD FAITH’ CERTIFICATIONS

SBA CLARIFIES PPP ‘GOOD FAITH’ CERTIFICATIONS

Previous Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) guidance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) left some businesses questioning whether they would have to repay their PPP loan by May 14, 2020. As previously discussed (click here) the SBA indicated businesses that could not in good faith certify that the current economic uncertainty made the loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the borrower had until May 14, 2020 to repay the loan. In addition, the SBA will be reviewing every borrower with a loan of at least $2 million, and other loans as appropriate, to ensure that the borrower met the required good faith certification. Should the SBA find a borrower did not meet the good faith certification and did not repay the loan, the borrower could face criminal and civil penalties.

Through a frequently asked question (FAQ), the SBA has issued the following safe harbor and additional guidance about how they will review the good faith certification:

  • The safe harbor provides that any borrower, who with their affiliates, that have received a PPP loan of less than $2 million will be deemed to have made the required certification concerning the necessity of the loan request in good faith.
  • Upon review, if the SBA makes a determination that a borrower with a loan greater than $2 million did not meet the certification on the necessity of the loan and the loan was not repaid by May 14, 2020:
    o The SBA will seek repayment of the loan
    o The SBA will inform the lender that the loan is not eligible for forgiveness
    o If borrower repays the loan after receiving notification of the determination from the SBA, the SBA will not pursue criminal or civil penalties

The above guidance should provide some comfort to borrowers that were evaluating whether the loan should be paid by May 14, 2020. However, for those borrowers with loans greater than $2 million it is still unknown what criteria the SBA will use to evaluate if the business made a good faith certification with respect to the necessity of the loan. Therefore, our small business advisory services group continues to recommend that borrowers carefully review and document their financial situation to meet the certification that the loan was necessary to continue ongoing operations.

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