On December 5, 2019, SBA issued a final rule changing its method for calculating the average annual receipts used to prescribe size standards for small businesses.
For all of SBA’s receipts-based size standards, and for other agencies’ proposed receipts-based size standards, SBA will calculate the average annual receipts using a 5-year averaging period (rather than the previous 3-year averaging period). This change is in accordance with the Small Business Runway Extension Act (SBREA) passed in December 2018.
This change does not currently apply to the SBA Business Loan and Disaster Loan Programs -- SBA intends to seek comment on these programs in a proposed rule through a separate rulemaking.
For all other programs, SBA will adopt a transition period beginning January 6, 2020 and running through January 6, 2022, during which firms may choose between using either the 3-year averaging period or the 5-year averaging period.
You can see the rule at Regulations.gov together with all of the comments, which are included in the same docket.
The changes published in the final rule will become effective on January 6, 2020.