By: Russell Marcus
On March 27, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). In addition to the $350 billion appropriated to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Section 7(a) loan program through the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the CARES Act added $10 billion to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
The EIDL program is an attractive loan option for certain small businesses. Those small businesses that have lower allowable payroll expenses (including as a result of a significant percentage of employees making in excess of $100,000 or the extensive use of independent contractors) may benefit from the EIDL program as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the PPP. In addition, EIDL loans are an appealing option for small businesses that want to take advantage of the broader permissible use of funds under the EIDL program than under the PPP. However, the EIDL program has two significant disadvantages compared to the PPP—loans are not forgivable and the program does not have the same exemptions from the affiliation rules.
EIDL loans of up to $2 million are available to any business, cooperative, employee stock ownership plan or tribal business concern with not more than 500 employees. Applicants may use funds to provide paid sick leave to employees who are unable to work due to COVID-19, maintain payroll, meet increased costs due to supply chain disruption, make rent or mortgage payments or repay obligations that cannot be satisfied due to revenue losses.
Importantly, through December 31, 2020, an applicant may request an emergency advance of up to $10,000. An applicant will not be required to repay any amounts of an advance provided even if the EIDL is denied. If the applicant applies under the PPP, the advance will be reduced from the loan forgiveness amount under the PPP.
A small business may apply for an EIDL loan as well as a PPP loan. However, a borrower must use the proceeds from an EIDL loan for purposes other than the allowable use of proceeds under the PPP.
The chart below compares the principal terms of the EIDL program and the PPP.
EIDL Program | PPP | |
Application/Approval |
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Maximum Loan Amount |
| Lesser of 2.5 months of payroll cost [1] and $10 million |
Term |
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Interest Rate |
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Repayment Deferral |
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Prepayment |
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Personal Guarantee |
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Collateral |
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Eligible Applicants |
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Use of Funds |
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Loan Forgiveness/Grants |
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interest on pre-existing mortgage obligations (secured by real or personal property), covered rent |
Application Period |
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[1] Payroll costs include salary, wages, commissions or tips (limited to $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee), employee benefits (including costs for vacation, parental, family, medical or sick leave), allowance for separation or dismissal, payments required for the provision of group health care benefits (including insurance premiums), payment of any retirement benefit and state and local taxes assessed on compensation. For a sole proprietor or individual independent contractor payroll costs include wages, commissions, income or net earnings from self-employment (limited to $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee).
[2] The forgiven amount may not exceed the loan principal and will be reduced proportionally by any reduction in employees or 25% reduction in payroll on June 30, 2020 compared to pre-February 15, 2020 levels. In addition, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must be spent on payroll costs.