Second COVID Relief Package Passed

Stimulus checks could mail as early as next week

Both houses of Congress voted to pass the latest COVID relief legislation and all indications are that the president will sign it into law. We know that more guidance will be provided as this rolls out, but here are the highlights as we know them:

PPP and small business support: Business expenses paid for with the proceeds of PPP loans are tax deductible, consistent with Congressional intent in the CARES Act. In addition, the loan forgiveness process is simplified for borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less. Unspent funds totaling $138 billion will be reinvested in the PPP program.

Economic impact payments (EIP): The bill includes a second round of EIPs for qualifying Americans.

The IRS will use the data it already has in its system to begin making payments at the end of December through the first two weeks of January. If the IRS has your direct deposit information, you will receive a payment that way. If it does not, you will receive your payment as a check or debit card in the mail. If you are eligible but don’t receive your check for any reason, you can claim the payment when you file your 2020 taxes in the spring of 2021.

Under the CARES Act, joint returns of couples where only one member of the couple had an SSN were ineligible for a rebate. This latest round of relief changes that provision. These families will now be eligible to receive payments for the members of the family who have SSNs. This change is retroactive, meaning those who fall under this category who missed out on the first round of EIPs can claim that money when filing 2020 tax returns in the spring of 2021.

The full credit amount is $600 per individual, $1,200 per couple and $600 for children. It is available for individuals with AGI at or below $75,000 ($112,500 for heads of household), and couples with AGI at or below $150,000. If you have children, you will receive an additional $600 per child.

For those above this income level, your tax rebate amount will be reduced by $5 for each $100 your AGI exceeds the above thresholds.

This means:

• An individual without children will not receive any rebate if their AGI exceeds $87,000.
• A couple without children will not receive any rebate if their AGI exceeds $174,000.
• A family of four will not receive any rebate if their AGI exceeds $198,000.

The IRS will use the same methodology for calculating payments as it did for the first round of economic impact payments.

Unemployment assistance: For those who are unemployed, the pandemic unemployment insurance program will be extended by 16 weeks. Supplemental federal unemployment benefits of $300 per week will continue into April 2021 instead of ending in December.

Rental assistance: The current CDC eviction moratorium will be extended until Jan. 31, 2021.

Student loans: Extension of student loan forbearance provisions created in CARES and extended by executive order, from the current expiration date of Jan. 31, 2021 through April 1, 2021.