Skip to main content
Level 3
December 10, 2020
Question

Business Loans

  • December 10, 2020
  • 10 replies
  • 58 views

My clients are an S-corp with a business loan thru their bank.  They have had the loan for a couple of years.  In April they received a letter from the bank saying due to the CARES act the bank, with the help of the SBA would be making payments on the loan for six months.  This is not a PPP Loan nor is it an EDIL.  So for six months a payment of $966.35 was applied to the loan.  For bookkeeping and tax purposes what do I do with this?  Is this debt forgiveness making it taxable income to the shareholders?  How is it written off on the books?  Any guidance would be appreciated.

This topic has been closed for replies.

10 replies

sjrcpa
Level 15
December 11, 2020

Yes it is taxable debt forgiveness income. Debit loan payable, Credit other income.

If interest is included:

a. it doesn't reduce the loan balance

b. there's a rule that says this point part isn't taxable because it would give rise to a deduction if they paid it.

The more I know the more I don’t know.
gats1016Author
Level 3
December 11, 2020

thank you

sjrcpa
Level 15
December 11, 2020

You're welcome.

The more I know the more I don’t know.
BobKamman
Level 15
December 11, 2020

As part of its coronavirus debt relief efforts, the SBA will pay 6 months of principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe for all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status as well as new 7(a), 504, and Microloans disbursed prior to September 27, 2020.  This relief is not available for Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans. Borrowers do not need to apply for this assistance. It will be automatically provided.

This is from the SBA website, which isn't clear on whether this was part of the CARES Act, or authorized elsewhere.  The government can't just give away money out of the kindness of its heart, can it?  Well, maybe so, according to what I read about student loan forgiveness. 

Still, since there is some question about whether PPP loan forgiveness is taxable, I wouldn't rush to count this (the principal part of the payments) as income.  

 

qbteachmt
Level 15
December 11, 2020

"Q: What must be reported as income on the Form 1099-MISC?
A. The total amount of the Section 1112 payments must be reported as income to the
Borrower, including the principal, interest and any fees that were included in the
Section 1112 payments. This total amount should be included in Box 3 of Form
1099-MISC."

 

From here:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/2b0409a

And this reference gives the operational details:

https://www.sba.gov/document/procedural-notice-5000-20041-further-guidance-implementation-section-1112-cares-act-subsidy-certain-loan-payments-7a-loan-program

 

Don't yell at us; we're volunteers
BobKamman
Level 15
December 11, 2020

Taxpayers aren't bound by SBA opinions.  I would wait until IRS provides guidance, or Congress decides whether to enact legislation that explains what they meant.  Also, I wonder if "cancellation of indebtedness" rules apply here, for insolvent businesses.  The issue is not deductibility of expenses paid with a PPP loan, but taxability of partial loan forgiveness, when there was no obligation to spend the funds on anything else.   

qbteachmt
Level 15
December 11, 2020

I don't know what is meant by "opinion."

I was responding to this: "This is from the SBA website, which isn't clear on whether this was part of the CARES Act, or authorized elsewhere."

So, that got answered by the link to, "tax Issues Relating to the Payments Made on Behalf of Borrowers under Section 1112 of the CARES Act"

And for this part: "Still, since there is some question about whether PPP loan forgiveness is taxable, I wouldn't rush to count this (the principal part of the payments) as income."

It directs the reporting agent to use this detail, "must be reported as income to the Borrower, including the principal, interest and any fees that were included in the Section 1112 payments. This total amount should be included in Box 3 of Form 1099-MISC."

 

This was issued "" to lenders and is the directive from the SBA regarding these payments, for 1099-Misc as well as 1098 reporting.

 

I don't see any "opinion." Until someone passes some sort of law that binds SBA, I see their instructions in those links, clarifying what has been posted here.

Don't yell at us; we're volunteers