State lawmakers approve relief package giving businesses up to $6.8 billion in tax breaks

California Gov. Gavin Newsom takes a tour of businesses in Leimert Park with California Assembly Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove (L) and California Senator Holly Mitchell (R) after days of protests in Los Angeles in Leimert Park in Los Angeles on June 3, 2020, as the state opens from the coronavirus shutdown. (Genaro Molina / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Apr 26, 2021 / 03:30 PM PDT

Updated: Apr 26, 2021 / 03:30 PM PDT

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California lawmakers on Monday approved the last part of a COVID-19 economic recovery package, sending the governor a bill he supports that provides up to $6.8 billion in state tax breaks for California businesses.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers negotiated the provisions of the bill, which allows businesses to avoid paying state taxes on forgiven loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program and to deduct expenses paid for using the loan funds.

“AB 80 provides significant and immediate tax relief to California businesses devastated by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Marina del Rey), the author of the bill approved Monday by the state Assembly a week after it was acted on by the Senate.

State officials said the tax breaks will apply to up to 85% of the more than 1 million California businesses that received a combined $97 billion in federal loans, or an average of about $96,700 each.

Read the full story at LATimes.com.