Will the SBA Accept My Offer in Compromise?
Explore the factors influencing SBA's decision on your Offer in Compromise. Learn how to improve your chances of acceptance and manage your defaulted loan effectively.
Discover how to mitigate SBA loan defaults using CARES Act provisions. Learn about deferral, forgiveness options, and legal strategies for financial resilience.

Have you ever found yourself grappling with the complexities of an SBA loan while concerns about defaults keep you awake at night? Navigating the labyrinth of legal and financial intricacies around Small Business Administration (SBA) loans can be daunting, especially in the face of potential defaults. Given the profound impact that such defaults may have on your business and personal financial stability, it’s crucial to be well-informed about the available avenues for resolution and the protective measures in place under specific legislative provisions such as the CARES Act.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, includes several provisions aimed at aiding small businesses overwhelmed by financial challenges. Though primarily designed to provide relief in uncertain times, certain CARES Act provisions can directly benefit businesses facing difficulties with SBA Loan Defaults.
Under the CARES Act, mechanisms were introduced that might ease the pressures associated with loan repayment and provide opportunities for restructuring your financial obligations. These include deferments and forgiveness programs, crucial if you are facing operational challenges or significant reductions in revenue.
By leveraging these provisions, borrowers have the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of their loans or even resolve certain debts for less than what is owed. Taking advantage of such modifications requires a thorough understanding of your eligibility and the application processes involved.
Understanding your legal rights and options can mean the difference between overcoming financial obstacles and succumbing to them. At this juncture, consulting with legal experts familiar with both SBA regulations and CARES Act provisions becomes essential.
Protect Law Group focuses specifically on representing business owners in SBA and treasury debt challenges, offering robust support mechanisms to manage and resolve financial distress related to SBA loan defaults. Their legal expertise is critical in:
A strategic approach to handling SBA loan defaults under the CARES Act may involve settlement negotiations or structured repayment plans. With this in mind, Protect Law Group extends various services designed to facilitate these objectives.
For those unable to meet their SBA obligations, an Offer in Compromise presents a viable route to negotiate debt reduction. This allows eligible businesses to settle their loans for a fraction of the owed amount, provided they can substantiate their inability to pay the full sum.
A structured workout plan acts as a second lifeline, altering the repayment framework to better align with your current financial capacity.
When debts are transferred to the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, challenges might escalate, necessitating legal intervention.
To combat administrative offsets or cross-servicing actions by the Treasury, filing a Petition for Dispute Resolution with competent authorities is imperative. This ensures debt reviews adhere to procedural fair-play, preventing unwarranted asset seizures or income penalties.
Selecting the right legal representation can significantly affect the outcome of your debt resolution process. Protect Law Group’s credentials include:
Choosing a firm like Protect Law Group means being supported by seasoned negotiators skilled in dealing with SBA intricacies, yielding peace of mind amid the financial turbulence associated with loan defaults.
The CARES Act stands as a pivotal element in providing relief options for SBA loan defaults. However, capitalizing on its benefits requires astute navigation bolstered by legal expertise. Protect Law Group equips businesses with the necessary legal strategies to manage and potentially dissolve financial liabilities stemming from SBA loans, fostering an environment for rebuilding with minimal setbacks.
By understanding the options before you and actively seeking expert guidance, you can take decisive steps towards regaining financial stability, securing your enterprise’s future, and ensuring that fear of defaults no longer necessitates sleepless nights.

Small business and guarantors obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $1,000,000. Clients defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for collection. Treasury added nearly $500,000 in collection fees totaling $1,500,000. Clients were served with the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice and exercised the Repayment option by applying for the SBA’s Hardship Accommodation Plan. However, their application was summarily rejected by the SBA without providing any meaningful reasons. Clients hired the Firm to represent them against the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury. During litigation and before the OHA court issued a final Decision and Order, the Firm successfully negotiated a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, a modification of the original repayment terms, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.

Client personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan for $350,000. The small business failed but because of the personal guarantee liability, the client continued to pay the monthly principal & interest out-of-pocket draining his savings. The client hired a local attorney but quickly realized that he was not familiar with SBA-backed loans or their standard operating procedures. Our firm was subsequently hired after the client received the SBA's official 60-day notice. After back-and-forth negotiations, we were able to convince the SBA to reinstate the loan, retract the acceleration of the outstanding balance, modify the original terms, and approve a structured workout reducing the interest rate from 7.75% to 0% and extending the maturity date for a longer period to make the monthly payments affordable. In conclusion, not only we were able to help the client avoid litigation and bankruptcy, but our SBA lawyers also saved him approximately $227,945 over the term of the workout.

Our firm successfully resolved an SBA 7(a) loan default in the amount of $140,000 on behalf of a husband-and-wife guarantor pair. The business had closed following a prolonged decline in revenue, leaving the borrowers personally liable for the remaining balance.
After conducting a comprehensive financial analysis and preparing a detailed SBA Offer in Compromise (SBA OIC) package, we negotiated directly with the SBA and the lender to achieve a settlement for $70,000 — just 50% of the outstanding balance. This settlement released the borrowers from further personal liability and allowed them to move forward without the threat of enforced collection.