Members of the Chamber Community,

Below you will find a summary just released by the U.S. Chamber on the eligibility requirements included in the final round of pandemic relief funds. We are pleased to announce that 501(c)(6) organizations were included in the final relief package and will now be eligible to receive PPP funds.

We would like to thank members of the local chamber community as well as the U.S. Chamber for their collaborative efforts over the last several months to contact the Virginia Congressional Delegation in support of 501(c)(6) eligibility.

We would particularly like to recognize and express our gratitude to Senator Tim Kaine and Senator Mark Warner for their continued advocacy on behalf chambers across the Commonwealth and nation by supporting the eligibility of 501(c)(6) organizations.

Please note that the eligibility requirement that lobbying not exceed 10% of the organization’s activities was increased to 15% in the final language.

Summary of 501(c)(6) Eligibility in Pandemic Relief Package Expansion of PPP

The final pandemic relief package restarts the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and expands PPP eligibility to include 501(c)(6)s. The language begins on page 2102 (in the PDF) and can be found here. The authority to make new PPP loans will terminate on March 31, 2021. We expect the pandemic relief bill to become law this week.

501(c)(6) organizations are eligible to receive a PPP loan provided:

1. They are not a professional sports league or organized for the purpose of promoting or participating in a political campaign (Note: this will not impact chambers of commerce or trade associations);
2. They do not employ more than 300 employees;
3. They do not receive more than 15% of their receipts from lobbying activities;
4. Lobbying activities do not compromise more than 15% of the organization’s total activities; and
5. The cost of the lobbying activities of the organization did not exceed $1,000,000 during the most recent tax year that ended prior to February 15, 2020.

If an organization fails any of these tests they are NOT eligible to receive a PPP loan. Similar rules apply to Destination Marketing Organizations.

Lobbying activities are not defined in the section. The Small Business Administration may provide a definition or guidance. Congressional staff have used information available in the 990 tax form when discussing the impact of the 15% lobbying activities limitation. Specifically, staff have compared the lobbying expenses reported on schedule C, Part III-B, Line 2 with the total expenses reported for the year (Page 1, line 18). (Note that these lines may be different if you are using a 990 form vs. 990EZ.)

Absent further guidance, organizations may wish to analyze their most recent 990 to determine whether they may be eligible to apply for a PPP loan and may wish to proceed with their lender if they believe they do qualify.

The bill also expands allowable uses for PPP funds and simplifies the loan process. We will be providing separate information on the other PPP changes.