Month: August 2021

Small Business Employees Can Get Money to Reduce Their Payroll Taxes

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Small Business Employees Can Get Money to Reduce Payroll Taxes

Through the American Rescue Plan, a number of critical tax benefits are being offered to small businesses to help with employee retention and paid leave credits. Available to small businesses who have seen a decline in revenues due to COVID, the employee retention credit of up to $28,000 per employee allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities.

Employee Retention Credits (ERC)

In 2020, the ERC was a tax credit against certain payroll tax that is not only 50% of the

wages up to $20,000 with a $5,000 cap per employee, but if the amount of the tax credit for an employer is more than the amount of the employer’s share of social security tax owed, the excess is paid directly to the employer.

Having been extended to the four quarters of 2021, the maximum tax credit has increased to $7,000 per employee per quarter, and the level of qualifying business disruption has been reduced so that there is a 20% decline in gross receipts during a single quarter. File amended payroll tax forms to claim the 2020 credit to receive your tax refund alongside the benefits from 2021.

Businesses that took out the PPP loan can still claim the 2020 ERC but the wages cannot be used to apply for PPP loan forgiveness. If your payroll costs were more than the amount covered by your PPP loan, you may be able to claim tax credits for those additional payroll costs.

Key Documents

Employee Retention Credit 2020 & 2021 One-pager

Employee Retention Credit Snapshot

Employee Retention Credit Quick Reference

Paid Leave Credits (PLC)

The availability of paid leave credits has been extended through September 2021 for businesses with fewer than 500 employees through the American Rescue Plan. Businesses can take dollar-for-dollar tax credits equal to wages of up to $5,000 if they offer paid leave to employees who are sick or quarantining. Under the law, businesses were required to provide paid sick leave and paid family leave to their employees as part of the CARES Act in 2020 and were entitled to a tax credit equal to 100% of the leave provided.

While it is no longer required to offer paid leave to employees, if a business does provide paid leave, then you can still claim these dollar-for-dollar tax credits for wages up until September 30th, 2021.

Key Documents

Paid Leave Credit 2020 & 2021 One-pager

Paid Leave Credit and COVID Relief

Paid Leave Credit Snapshot

To learn more contact our partner, The Joseph Center, Melissa Duff Brown, 708.697.5341 mbrown@jbs.edu

Illinois Celebrating Black Business Month in August

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BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS MONTH

To honor the contributions of Black-owned businesses across the state, the State of Illinois, with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the celebration of Black Business Month by highlighting a series of events and initiatives taking place throughout the month of August. 

“Supporting Black business owners and entrepreneurs is important for the health of our communities and for restoring the Illinois economy following the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker. 

Illinois has over 132,000 Black-owned businesses, comprising 11 percent of all Illinois businesses, and yet these business owners have historically experienced barriers in accessing capital and other key business resources. To show their appreciation, this month-long celebration invites Illinoisans to events like “Shop Black-owned Business Saturdays” along with partnering with community leaders and enterprises throughout the state to discuss the opportunities for the community available in the upcoming “Back to Business” recovery assistance program through the ARPA. 

“Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, the State of Illinois is committed to an inclusive business environment that helps businesses owned by people of color compete and thrive,” said Acting Director of DCEO, Sylvia Garcia. 

• August 11th:  Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship?(ADME): Achieving Success with the Illinois SB Network 

Presented by DCEO and the Illinois SB Network, Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurship (ADME) is a workshop for business owners to learn more about the State’s expansive business development center network – one of the largest in the nation with over 40 SBs, 9 PTACs, 9 ITCs. During this panel, business owners can learn how these community centers which are available on a year round basis can support new and existing businesses take their vision to the next level with planning, technical assistance, marketing, and more – all at no cost. To register, (LINK HERE).

• August 18th: Navigating the Pandemic: Resources to Help Black Businesses Survive and Thrive

DCEO-OMEE will host a group of business leaders to discuss how to leverage funding and grant opportunities to get on the road to recovery from the pandemic. Attendees will learn about technical support offered through community navigators who are on the ground listening and responding to your needs. To register, (LINK HERE).

• August 25th: Building Back Better: Charting Economic Recovery for the Black Business Community & Crafting the Roadmap for Access to Capital for Black Entrepreneurs

DCEO is teaming up with Groupon and community leaders to host a conversation with Acting DCEO Director Sylvia Garcia and leaders in business around access to capital and how they can foster an ecosystem of success. Also joining are Ron Busby, President, US Black Chamber of Commerce; Don Thompson, Founder and CEO, Cleveland Avenue; Eva Brown, Segment Leader, U.S Bank; Don Cravins, COO, National Urban League; Stephen Davis, Founder and Chairman, The Will Group. To register, (LINK HERE).

All events are free to attend. For more information on National Black History Month events planned for businesses, contact Matthew J. Simpson, the African American Business Development Manager, at Matthew.Simpson@illinois.gov or to learn more about ongoing resources and programs for businesses, follow DCEO on social media @IllinoisDCEO.

PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal: Open Wednesday, August 4, 2021

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Forgiveness Portal: Opens Wednesday, August 4, 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching an application portal on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.

The application portal is a streamlined, simple pre-filled application– PPP Borrowers who qualify will be able to submit their forgiveness application directly on the portal, instead of through their lender.

This initiative will ultimately rush relief to 6.5 million small businesses.

Lenders are required to opt-in to this program – borrowers can check if their lender is participating by referencing this list.

  • The SBA is standing up a PPP customer service team to answer questions and directly assist borrowers with their forgiveness applications.  Borrowers that need assistance or have questions should call (877) 552-2692, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST.

Resources on the SBA PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal:

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