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COVID-19 EIDL vs. PPP: Forgiveness, Repayment, and What Borrowers Should Do Now

COVID-19 EIDL was a repayable direct SBA loan; PPP could be forgiven if requirements were met and approval granted. Both programs are closed to new applications, but existing borrowers still need to check balances, forgiveness decisions, and payment instructions.
From TheFinanceBase Team5 min to read
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COVID-19 EIDL was a repayable SBA loan; PPP loans could be forgiven if borrowers met the program’s requirements and received approval. Neither program accepts new applications. Existing borrowers should check their own SBA account, loan note, lender, or servicing notice to determine what is still owed and whether forgiveness was granted.

How COVID-19 EIDL and PPP differed

Both programs provided pandemic-era relief, but their structures and intended uses were different. COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) were issued directly by the SBA for working capital and ordinary operating expenses. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was delivered through participating lenders and focused primarily on preserving payroll. See the SBA’s COVID-era programs overview.

Feature COVID-19 EIDL PPP
Loan structure Direct SBA loan SBA-backed loan issued through a participating lender
Main purpose Working capital and ordinary business operating expenses Primarily payroll, with specified additional covered expenses
Forgiveness The standard loan must be repaid; it was not a forgiveness program. Eligible portions could be forgiven if program rules were met and forgiveness was approved.
Applications Closed; the SBA stopped accepting COVID-EIDL applications on January 1, 2022. Closed; the program ended May 31, 2021.
Published interest and term 30-year term; fixed 3.75% rate for businesses and 2.75% for private nonprofits. 1% interest; two-year maturity for loans issued before June 5, 2020, and five-year maturity for loans issued after that date.

These are published program terms, not a substitute for an individual loan’s signed note or servicing record. The SBA’s pages for COVID-19 EIDL and First Draw PPP loans describe program-level terms.

Who could qualify, and can anyone apply now?

COVID-19 EIDL eligibility

Historically, COVID-19 EIDL served eligible small businesses, agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 disaster. The application window is closed; borrowers cannot submit a new application for this pandemic program.

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PPP eligibility

Historical PPP eligibility included qualifying small businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors, self-employed people, and certain nonprofit and other entities. Requirements varied by size, employee count, and draw, so this is not a current application route: PPP ended on May 31, 2021. The SBA’s PPP program page provides background for existing borrowers.

Do not confuse COVID EIDL with current disaster EIDL

The SBA has a separate disaster Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for qualifying small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofits in a declared disaster area that suffered substantial economic injury. It is distinct from COVID-19 EIDL and does not reopen the pandemic program. Current details are on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans page.

Was an EIDL or PPP loan forgivable?

COVID-19 EIDL: the loan is repayable

COVID-19 EIDL proceeds could be used for working capital and ordinary business expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage, utilities, other operating costs, and certain business-debt payments. The SBA describes EIDL as a loan that must be repaid, not as a loan that is automatically forgiven. EIDL Advances were a separate form of assistance and should not be mistaken for forgiveness of the loan balance. See the SBA’s COVID-19 EIDL information.

PPP: forgiveness depended on use and approval

PPP borrowers could seek forgiveness for eligible amounts used for payroll and specified covered costs, such as mortgage interest, rent, and utilities, subject to the rules applicable to their loan. A borrower could submit a request after using the proceeds for which forgiveness was sought. Forgiveness was not automatic: the borrower had to meet the applicable requirements and receive a decision through the lender or SBA process.

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For PPP loans of $150,000 or less, SBA Form 3508S does not require supporting documents to be submitted with the forgiveness application. Borrowers should nevertheless retain records in case of review. Larger loans use forms with supporting-document requirements. The SBA explains the process on its PPP loan forgiveness page.

What EIDL borrowers need to know about repayment

The SBA’s published COVID-EIDL terms list a 30-year term, a fixed rate of 3.75% for businesses or 2.75% for private nonprofits, and an initial two-year payment deferment during which interest accrued. The SBA says the first payment is due 30 months after the original note date. These general terms do not establish an individual borrower’s current balance or due date; check the note and account. The SBA’s EIDL program information also lists collateral requirements for loans above $25,000 and a personal guaranty requirement above $200,000.

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Check the account and payment instructions

  1. Sign in to the SBA Loan Portal and review the loan status, amount due, statements, and servicing messages. The SBA’s Make a payment to SBA page provides payment guidance.
  2. Compare the portal information with the signed note and any notices from the SBA or servicing center. If they differ or you have a delinquency, collection referral, or other hold, follow the specific notice and contact the listed official servicing contact.
  3. Follow the current payment instructions in the portal. The SBA says it accepts electronic payments only for covered loans starting October 1, 2025; verify that instruction and the available payment methods for your account.

Payment assistance is not forgiveness

The SBA describes a payment-assistance option for eligible COVID-EIDL borrowers: a 50% payment reduction for six months, available once every five years. Conditions include being current and less than 90 days past due when applying, having a business that is open and operating, and having no active bankruptcy for the borrower or owners. Check the SBA portal for current availability and loan-specific eligibility. A reduced payment is temporary assistance, not cancellation of the debt. Details are on the SBA’s PPP program page.

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What PPP borrowers should do about forgiveness or an unpaid balance

Existing PPP borrowers can apply for forgiveness through the SBA Direct Forgiveness Portal or their lender. The portal has been available to borrowers of all loan sizes since March 13, 2024. Because PPP loans were issued by lenders, contact the lender for loan-specific status unless the loan is SBA-purchased and serviced through the SBA portal. Do not treat a submitted application as approval: confirm whether the loan was forgiven, partially forgiven, or remains payable.

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  1. Check the SBA Direct Forgiveness Portal or contact the lender that issued the loan.
  2. Ask for the current forgiveness decision and any remaining principal, interest, payment amount, and due date.
  3. If you did not apply within ten months after the end of the covered period, payments are no longer deferred and repayment begins under the loan terms. The SBA says borrowers may apply for forgiveness up to five years after the SBA issued the loan number; confirm your deadline and process with the lender or portal.

For current portal and borrower guidance, consult the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program page and its PPP loan forgiveness guidance.

Which account or notice controls your next step?

Program rules explain the general framework, but they do not determine an individual loan’s status. Use the signed note, current account information, and written servicing or forgiveness decision for your own case. For an EIDL delinquency, collection referral, or fraud-related hold, respond to the specific SBA notice; for PPP, contact the lender or SBA servicer identified in the account. No general comparison can establish what a particular borrower owes.

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