Securing Your Finances During COVID-19
COVID-19 Support for your: Finances | Employees | Operations
The priority is to keep your business open, and that requires having sufficient funds in place. Take advantage of applicable loan options, business credits, and other financial programs that can help you at this critical juncture of the coronavirus pandemic.
PPP and Loan Forgiveness
A Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan can help you keep employees on payroll, bring back those you furloughed, and cover certain overhead costs. PPP loans may be forgiven if funds are used on eligible covered costs.
Employee Retention Tax Credit
A refundable federal tax credit against employer payroll taxes for businesses that complied with government order to partially or fully suspend operations, or recognized significant reduction in gross receipts but retained their employees. Businesses can only claim the credit on wages that are not forgiven or expected to be forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The deadline to claim this credit was changed retroactively by law to Sept. 30, 2021 for most businesses. Recovery Startup Businesses have until Dec. 31, 2021 to pay qualified wages that can be used to claim the credit.
The IRS released guidance on the retroactive termination of the program to help businesses who claimed or took an advance on the ERTC in the fourth quarter of 2021 understand the requirements to pay back the funds and avoid failure to pay penalties.
Payroll Tax Deferral Period
Employers can defer payment of applicable employer payroll taxes (employer portion of Social Security) incurred from March 27, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020.
How deferred repayments are split and paid
- 50% due Dec. 31, 2021
- 50% due Dec. 31, 2022
Deferring payment of employer payroll taxes
Employers can now defer or continue to defer payment of the employer share of Social Security taxes even after PPP loans are forgiven.
Other Funding Options
You and your accountant might determine there are better courses of action to obtain financing based on your business and industry needs.
SBA loans
Small businesses that don’t qualify for traditional small business financing may find other opportunities through SBA loan programs.
Main Street Lending Program
Established by the Federal Reserve to support lending to businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of COVID-19.
Business lines of credit
Monthly payments and interest are determined based on how much of the open line of credit you use.
Term loans
Depending on the amount financed, loans can be either short-term or long-term, and can generally be secured from any lender.
Paychex Promise
Get the ultimate peace of mind for your business — payroll funding services to help you pay employees during and after the pandemic.
Payroll Protection
We provide you the flexibility to extend the collection of payroll funds from your bank account by up to seven days without interruption of services or insufficient fund charges.
Business Credit Service
Paychex sends payment history to credit bureaus with the goal of building your business credit file and improving your ability to secure attractive financing terms.
