- Louisiana Coronavirus Relief Guide
Louisiana was the fourth state in the U.S. to be declared a major disaster – and the fourth state to tally 1,000 coronavirus deaths. A large portion of infections and deaths are located in tourist destination New Orleans and its surrounding area. This year, more than one million visitors from around the country and world… read more…
- How to Access the SBA’s Emergency EIDL Grant
Update: The new stimulus package, expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden shortly, includes an additional $15 million in funding for EIDLs. The EIDL program pre-dates the coronavirus pandemic; the CARES Act relaxed requirements, expanded eligibility—and authorized $10,000 advances. These changes to the EIDL program are just some of the ways the government is… read more…
- What to Do If Your Stimulus Check Still Hasn’t Arrived
Since the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act – a $2 trillion package designed to help individuals and small businesses – most Americans have focused on one program in particular: the personal stimulus checks for the majority of Americans to help them get through the COVID-19 crisis. But many Americans are… read more…
- How the CARES Act Helps Self-Employed People
Ordinarily, only salaried employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own are eligible to collect unemployment insurance. But the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act expanded unemployment benefits to self-employed workers unemployed or underemployed because… read more…
- Coronavirus Relief Programs by State
Though the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides a bevy of recovery measures on the federal level, including stimulus checks for individuals and small business relief programs, many states have created their own initiatives to help their residents weather the economic downturn this COVID-19 pandemic has fomented. Make sure your financial plan… read more…
- SBA Microloans: A Guide for Small Businesses
Coronavirus has hit small businesses hard. While the government has responded with a number of small-business-focused relief initiatives, small business owners can also access existing programs to get through the crisis. One of the government’s long-standing programs to help small businesses is the Microloan program, which became operational under the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1992. Learn… read more…
- What the CARES Act Means for Retirement Accounts
Saving for retirement can be challenging even at the best of times. But it can become even more difficult when a crisis hits. With the coronavirus pandemic battering the economy and causing job losses in 2020, many people faced uncertainty about their retirement savings. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided some relief… read more…
- Marriage Tax Penalties and Bonuses in America – 2020 Study
When it comes to taxes, is it more advantageous to get married or stay single? As far as the IRS is concerned, your income and location can ultimately determine whether a union is for richer or poorer. The federal government, along with many state governments and some local governments, has a system of progressive tax… read more…
- How Does the SBA 504 Loan Program Work?
The Small Business Administration’s most significant function is to help small businesses secure funding. Often this comes in the form of startup capital for someone looking to create a business. However, a small business can also use SBA loans to expand, buy equipment or even open up a new location. One such loan is the… read more…
- How the CARES Act Helps Retirees
In an effort to quell some of the financial fallout created by the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government in 2020 passed a $2 trillion stimulus package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The act extended a number of benefits to retirees and pre-retirees. Among those benefits were putting required minimum distribution… read more…
- Washington Coronavirus Relief
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted daily life for nearly every American, and Washington State is one of the locations that has been dealing with the crisis the longest, as Seattle was one of the early hot spots for the epidemic in the U.S. The Washington State government has rolled out plans to help individuals and… read more…
- What Does Coronavirus Treatment Cost?
While testing for coronavirus should be free under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, treatment for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) could be pricey. Your costs will vary depending on how much treatment you require, whether or not you are insured and how much your deductible is, among other factors. Here’s what you need to know. Costs for… read more…
- What Is Deficit Spending?
Deficit spending occurs when the federal government spends more than it collects. This means that the federal budget exceeds both the government’s revenues for the year and any surplus it currently holds. This difference is known as the “deficit,” and in recent years the nation’s annual deficit has ballooned. To cover this deficit, the government… read more…
- Pennsylvania Coronavirus Relief Programs
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to hamper the U.S. economy, residents of individual states, like Pennsylvania, are searching for relief programs at a local level. The Keystone State now has more than 66,900 confirmed cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH). And the Department of Labor shows Pennsylvania has more than 1.7 million… read more…
- The SBA Community Advantage Loan Program
One of the most important functions of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is to help entrepreneurs and small businesses raise funds to open or expand a business. To assist with this, the SBA offers two main types of loans, 7(a) loans and pilot… read more…
- Florida Coronavirus Relief Programs
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, individuals and small businesses can take many measures to ensure their recovery from any financial losses due to the virus. Florida currently has more than 51,000 confirmed cases and 2,300 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health. And unemployment claims are dramatically increasing in both the state and throughout… read more…
- Tax-Free Student Loan Repayment Benefits
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act offers a slew of benefits for Americans, including benefits related to student loan repayment. In addition to allowing borrowers to take a temporary break from making payments on federal loans, the act also provides tax-free student loan repayment benefits for both employers and employees. If you… read more…
- About the Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act offers financial relief for Americans who have been laid off or have had their hours cut as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. One provision of the act funds the benefits of short-time compensation (STC) programs at the state level. The programs, also known as work-sharing programs,… read more…
- What Is the Federal Reserve Main Street Lending Program?
As the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying economic crisis continue, people and small businesses are going to be looking for more and more ways to keep themselves afloat during this difficult period. The Federal Reserve has unveiled details about a new program using funds allocated to it by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES)… read more…
- Guide to the Business Tax Provisions in the CARES Act
The federal government has launched a wide-ranging set of initiatives to help individuals and businesses dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. A number of these initiatives, found in the $2 trillion stimulus bill known as the CARES Act, focus on aid to businesses. While many, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, involve grants and loans to struggling businesses,… read more…
- How the Employee Retention Tax Credit Works
The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is a provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act intended to help workplaces keep employees on their payroll during the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, the ERTC is a… read more…
- Georgia Coronavirus Relief
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly everyone in the U.S., as stay-at-home orders and mandatory business closings escalate. Beyond the coronavirus’ public health impact, the economic toll has also been severe. Though the state of Georgia hasn’t been hit as hard by the coronavirus as some other states, namely California and New York, the virus… read more…
- Texas Coronavirus Relief Programs
Texas –like every other state in the U.S. — has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state currently has more than 25,200 cases with 600 fatalities, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. And both individuals and small businesses are seeking aid to recoup coronavirus-related financial loss. While the state doesn’t… read more…
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act introduced several stimulus programs to provide financial assistance to Americans struggling under the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. One of those programs, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, helped workers who lost their job but weren’t eligible for unemployment benefits. These kinds of workers include freelancers, gig… read more…
- Coronavirus Relief for High Earners
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dedicates $2 trillion to helping both individuals and businesses while the U.S. economy is affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Among its provisions are an extended tax deadline, expanded unemployment benefits and stimulus check payments for Americans within certain income thresholds. But wealthy Americans likely won’t qualify… read more…