Can a Business Loan be Forgiven if the Business Fails?
Discover key factors regarding business loan repayment obligations after a business failure. Explore SBA loan forgiveness options and consult with Protect Law Group.
For instance, if you are applying for an FHA loan, that is, a loan backed by the United States government, your lender will access the CAIVRS system to determine your eligibility. If you have a prior default on an FHA loan or other federal debt, such as an SBA loan or a school loan, more than likely you will show up on CAIVRS and may lose your opportunity to obtain the credit you are seeking. As such, it can be very important to know this information and how to deal with a report on CAIVRS.
FHA CAIVRS Exception
Lenders must use CAIVRS to screen all borrowers , including nonprofit agencies acting as borrowers. You are not eligible for Federally-related credit if CAIVRS indicates that you are presently delinquent on a Federal debt, or have had a claim paid by a federal agency based on a debt you incurred such as a foreclosure or an SBA loan default. For FHA loans, a claim will affect you if such a claim has been paid within the previous three years on a loan made and insured on your behalf by HUD
A debt is in "delinquent status" for purposes of CAIVRS reporting if the debt has not been paid within 90 days of the payment due date. The payment due date is the date specified in the creditor agency's initial written demand for payment or applicable agreement or instrument (including a post-delinquency repayment agreement).
Each federal agency may have its own exceptions to CAIVRS reporting. For instance, FHA-insured mortgages have certain exceptions for divorce, bankruptcy, or case in which a subsequent assuming party defaulted.
You can apply for a CAIVRS waiver from the government agency that you are applying for credit. That is, if you are apply for an SBA backed business loan, but had a CAIVRS claim pay by HUD, you will have to request a CAIVRS waiver from the SBA, not HUD.
A waiver can only be granted by the head of a government agency or the chief financial officer. Your CAIVRS waiver request must meet certain guidelines and provide the requisite information prescribed by Federal law.
If you are dealing with a CAIVRS reporting issue, assertive legal counsel versed in Federal debt workouts can be a great asset. You may have other avenues for eliminating your CAIVRS claim reporting in addition to a waiver request. Protect Law Group focuses on Federal debt issues, including CAIVRS claim reporting issues and waiver requests. Contact one of our Federal debt workout attorneys today for a case evaluation at 1-888-756-9969.
Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure
Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements
Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.
Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $750,000. She and her husband signed personal guarantees exposing all of their non-exempt income and assets. With just 18 months left on the maturity date and payment on the remaining balance, the Great Recession of 2008 hit, which ultimately caused the business to fail and default on the loan terms. The 7(a) lender accelerated and sent a demand for full payment of the remaining loan balance. The SBA lender’s note allowed for a default interest rate of about 7% per year. In response to the lender's aggressive collection action, Client's husband filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in an attempt to protect against their personal assets. However, his bankruptcy discharge did not relieve the Client's personal guarantee liability for the SBA debt. The SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection against the Client to the SBA. The Client then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice. After conducting a Case Evaluation with her, she then hired the Firm to respond and negotiate on her behalf with just 34 days left before the impending referral to Treasury. The Client wanted to dispute the SBA’s alleged debt balance as stated in the 60-Day Notice by claiming the 7(a) lender failed to liquidate business collateral in a commercially reasonable manner - which if done properly - proceeds would have paid back the entire debt balance. However, due to time constraints, waivers contained in the SBA loan instruments, including the fact the Client was not able to inspect the SBA's records for investigation purposes before the remaining deadline, Client agreed to submit a Structured Workout for the alleged balance in response to the Official 60-Day Notice as she was not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) because of equity in non-exempt income and assets. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist approved the Workout proposal, reducing the Client's purported liability by nearly $142,142.27 in accrued interest, and statutory collection fees. Without the Firm's intervention and subsequent approval of the Workout proposal, the Client's debt amount (with accrued interest, Treasury's statutory collection fee and Treasury's interest based on the Current Value of Funds Rate (CVFR) would have been nearly $291,030.
Our firm successfully negotiated an SBA offer in compromise (SBA OIC), settling a $974,535.93 SBA loan balance for just $18,000. The offerors, personal guarantors on an SBA 7(a) loan, originally obtained financing to purchase a commercial building in Lancaster, California.
The borrower filed for bankruptcy, and the third-party lender (TPL) foreclosed on the property. Despite the loan default, the SBA pursued the offerors for repayment. Given their limited income, lack of significant assets, and approaching retirement, we presented a strong case demonstrating their financial hardship.
Through strategic negotiations, we secured a favorable SBA settlement, reducing the nearly $1 million debt to a fraction of the amount owed. This outcome allowed the offerors to resolve their liability without prolonged financial strain.
Clients' 7(a) loan was referred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for enforced collection in 2015. They not only personally guaranteed the loan, but also pledged their primary residence as additional collateral. One of the clients filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy thinking that it would discharge the SBA 7(a) lien encumbering their home. They later discovered that they were mistakenly advised. The Firm was subsequently hired to review their case and defend against a series of collection actions. Eventually, we were able to negotiate a structured workout for $180,000 directly with the SBA, saving them approximately $250,000 (by reducing the default interest rate and removing Treasury's substantial collection fees) and from possible foreclosure.
.jpg)
