The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has moved back the date providers have to start reporting on how they used the COVID-19 relief funds they may have received — but a new date hasn't been established. In the meantime, HHS is urging recipients who received more than $10,000 in relief money to register with the reporting portal so they're ready to comply when it's time.

In a Jan. 15 press release, HHS said that the reporting timeline is being pushed back "due to the recent passage of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act," the latest legislation aimed at blunting the economic effects of the pandemic.

While the reporting start-date has been delayed, the portal that recipients will use is now open for registration. HHS is recommending that recipients register sooner rather than later to help make the reporting process easier when the timeline is announced. The department hasn't yet established a deadline for registration.

Another important reason to register as soon as possible: HHS says it will use emails provided through the registration process to notify recipients of when they need to start reporting on use of the relief funds.