Small business owners who mismanage their finances could default on their Small Business Administration loan. To default, they must become delinquent for ninety days. At this point, their lender could exceed standard collection practices. These actions could include seizure of business assets such as bank accounts and real properties. A SBA Offer in Compromise could give the business owner an opportunity for settling the debt without serious repercussions.
After the SBA loan default, the lender notifies the borrower of probable action if they don't contact the lender and make arrangements for payment. The borrower has a deadline for these measures and should contact their attorney quickly. Once they have the SBA demand letter, their attorney could negotiate a settlement. Since the seizure process could increase the lender's costs, they are more likely to accept an appropriate offer.
Once the delinquency reaches ninety days, the loan enters default. At this stage, the lender is within their rights to acquire assets and the collateral used to secure the loan. They conduct the seizure process to acquire a balance that reflects what is owed by the borrower. Since the SBA is a government agency, they have federal rights and take action accordingly.
Any property listed on the loan documentation as collateral is seized immediately. This includes automobiles, real property, and business accounts. If this value doesn't reflect the balance owed, the agency could acquire more property and assets. Through a SBA loan foreclosure, they could acquire the borrower's primary residence if it was purchased with company funds.
A tax offset is a settlement in which the consumer could use their tax refunds to pay the balance. The lender seizes their tax refunds each year until the balance is paid off. If the borrower is behind on their tax payments, their attorney could acquire a settlement for the outstanding balance. A Tax Offset Program could help these consumers.
Small business owners should follow strategies for avoiding the effects of a SBA default. These actions could equate to total seizure of the business assets and properties. Business owners who wish to avoid these circumstances should contact an attorney now.
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.
Clients obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $324,000 to buy a small business and its facility. The business and real estate had an appraisal value of $318,000 at the time of purchase. The business ultimately failed but the participating lender abandoned the business equipment and real estate collateral even though it had valid security liens. As a result, the lender recouped nearly nothing from the pledged collateral, leaving the business owners liable for the deficiency balance. The SBA paid the lender the 7(a) guaranty money and was assigned ownership of the debt, including the right to collect. However, the clients never received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and were denied the opportunity to negotiate an Offer in Compromise (OIC) or a Workout directly with the SBA before being transferred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, which added an additional $80,000 in collection fees. Treasury garnished and offset the clients' wages, federal salary and social security benefits. When the clients tried to negotiate with Treasury by themselves, they were offered an unaffordable repayment plan which would have caused severe financial hardship. Clients subsequently hired the Firm to litigate an Appeals Petition before the SBA Office & Hearings Appeals (OHA) challenging the legal enforceability and amount of the debt. The Firm successfully negotiated a term OIC that was approved by the SBA Office of General Counsel, saving the clients approximately $205,000.
Small business sole proprietor obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $500,000. Client defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for aggressive collection. Treasury added $180,000 in collection fees totaling $680,000+. Client tried to negotiate with Treasury but was only offered a 3-year or 10-year repayment plan. Client hired the Firm to represent before the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery and reviewing them, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury citing a host of purported violations. The Firm was able to negotiate a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, participation in the Hardship Accommodation Plan, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.
Our firm successfully facilitated the SBA settlement of a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) where borrower received an SBA disaster loan of $150,000, but due to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business was unable to recover.
Despite the borrower’s efforts to maintain operations, shutdowns and restrictions significantly reduced the customer base and revenue, making continued operations unsustainable. After a thorough business closure review, we negotiated with the SBA, securing a resolution where the borrower paid only $6,015 to release the collateral, with no further financial liability for the owner/officer.
This case demonstrates how businesses affected by the pandemic can navigate SBA loan settlements effectively. If your business is struggling with an SBA EIDL loan, we specialize in SBA Offer in Compromise (SBA OIC) solutions to help close outstanding debts while minimizing financial burden.
.jpg)
