Thanks to a recent memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), some organizations subject to the Uniform Grant Guidance will no longer be provided an extension to file their Single Audit with the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Memo M-20-26, Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations eliminates a previous six-month extension that had been granted to organizations with fiscal year ends falling between December 31, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Those Single Audits would be due within the normal due date under the Uniform Grant Guidance, nine months after the fiscal year end. 

The memo also contained a few other provisions of note, which we have summarized below.

Salaries and Other Project Activities

In what could be welcome news, organizations may continue to charge salaries and benefits to active federal awards from all funding sources (including non-federal) through September 30, 2020. Documentation will be necessary to demonstrate how salaries and program costs charged to federal programs may have been impacted by the COVID-19 disruption.

COVID-19 Legislation & Relief Clarification

Any payroll costs that would be covered by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or other coronavirus legislation benefit may not be charged to current federal awards. Additionally, other sources of funding must be used first before tapping into active federal awards to cover payroll related expenses, including rent renegotiations.

Any funds received from these COVID-19 federal programs, (collectively, COVID-19 Emergency Act expenditures) must be listed separately in the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards.

OMB Compliance Supplement Delayed until Fall

The 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement (Compliance Supplement) is expected to be issued in two phases in 2020. The first is expected in early summer and will incorporate changes approved prior to COVID-19. The second, and likely most relevant version, is expected later this fall.  This version will incorporate changes due to coronavirus legislation. Note that the delay in the issuance of the final Compliance Supplement may delay when auditors can audit certain programs. For organizations that have board meetings and deadlines for financial statements in early fall, the Single Audit financial statements will likely not be available and will be finalized later in the fall or early winter.  Organizations may need to consider a second board meeting for review and approval of the Single Audit.

More Information to Come

For comments, questions or concerns about these provisions please contact us. Visit our COVID-19 Resource Center for more updated information about the ramifications of the pandemic.

Copyright © 2020, CBIZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the express written consent of CBIZ. This publication is distributed with the understanding that CBIZ is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. The reader is advised to contact a tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information. CBIZ assumes no liability whatsoever in connection with the use of this information and assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in tax laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.

CBIZ MHM is the brand name for CBIZ MHM, LLC, a national professional services company providing tax, financial advisory and consulting services to individuals, tax-exempt organizations and a wide range of publicly-traded and privately-held companies. CBIZ MHM, LLC is a fully owned subsidiary of CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ).