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Washington, D.C.— On Friday, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, wrote to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury Department, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) asking the agencies to reverse their stance on the deductibility of expenses payed for with funds obtained via Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Despite clear congressional intent under the CARES Act, the IRS has issued multiple rulings in recent months treating loan proceeds as taxable.
 

Many small business owners have objected to the rulings, claiming that the policy increases their tax liability and places a more significant financial burden on them during a precarious time. In the letter, Chairwoman Velázquez calls on Treasury and the IRS to bring their position in line with Congress’s intent and extend the benefits promised under the CARES Act to small businesses participating in PPP.
 

“It is unacceptable that America’s small businesses continue to suffer due to this ruling as this pandemic continues,” wrote Chairwoman Velázquez. “The Committee has heard from small businesses across the country who took a PPP loan to keep their businesses alive and pay their employees, but because of Treasury and IRS rules that disregard of the intent of Congress, now face uncertainty and potentially higher taxes. Denying Congressional intent regarding the correct tax treatment of these loans will add insult to injury for millions of America’s small businesses who have struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 

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