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PPP Shell Company Discovery Act

12/15/2023, 3:55 PM

Summary of Bill HR 1476

Bill 118 hr 1476, also known as the PPP Shell Company Discovery Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to address concerns regarding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the potential for fraudulent activity by shell companies.

The PPP Shell Company Discovery Act aims to increase transparency and accountability in the PPP loan application process by requiring the Small Business Administration (SBA) to conduct additional checks to identify and prevent fraudulent applications from shell companies. Shell companies are entities that have little to no real business operations and are often used to conceal the true ownership of funds.

Under this bill, the SBA would be required to implement procedures to verify the legitimacy of businesses applying for PPP loans, including conducting background checks on applicants and cross-referencing information with other government databases. The goal is to ensure that PPP funds are distributed to legitimate small businesses in need of financial assistance, rather than to fraudulent entities. Additionally, the PPP Shell Company Discovery Act includes provisions for increased reporting requirements and oversight of PPP loans to prevent abuse of the program. This bill aims to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure that PPP funds are used as intended to support small businesses during the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the PPP Shell Company Discovery Act seeks to strengthen the integrity of the PPP program and prevent fraudulent activity by shell companies. By implementing additional verification measures and oversight, this legislation aims to safeguard the integrity of the PPP program and ensure that funds are distributed equitably to small businesses in need.

Congressional Summary of HR 1476

PPP Shell Company Discovery Act

This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to compile a list of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan recipients whose loans were forgiven under the program.

Additionally, the IRS must compile (1) a list of such loan recipients who did not withhold payroll taxes in 2019, and (2) a list of loan such recipients for which the aggregate amount of PPP loans exceeded four times the greatest amount of wages paid by the recipient during a calendar month in 2019.

The IRS must notify the Department of Justice when the lists are complete.

Current Status of Bill HR 1476

Bill HR 1476 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 8, 2023. Bill HR 1476 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on March 8, 2023.  Bill HR 1476's most recent activity was Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. as of March 8, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1476

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
4
Democrat Cosponsors
0
Republican Cosponsors
4
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1476

Primary Policy Focus

Commerce

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1476

PPP Shell Company Discovery Act
PPP Shell Company Discovery Act
To provide for the collection and sharing of information, including tax return information, for purposes of criminal investigations with respect to loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.

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