When a business is no longer sustainable and has debts it cannot fulfill, it may need help closing down as it cannot simply shut down and ignore the debts. If the business owner obtained an SBA loan for their business, they may receive an SBA demand letter asking for the amount paid in full. If the business owner cannot pay in full in a reasonable amount of time, they may want to look into an Offer in Compromise.
There are only certain circumstances in which an SBA Offer in Compromise will work. If the borrower is unable to make the full payment and the business has ceased with all assets liquidated, it might be possible for them to work out an Offer in Compromise with the SBA. However, this is not as simple as the remaining debt is forgiven and there are no other repercussions. It's always recommended for the business owner to speak with a tax advisor or a legal advisor before beginning something like this as it might not be the right path for them to take.
When a business owner is facing an SBA loan default or an SBA loan foreclosure, speaking with a lawyer can help them determine what all of their options are. If there are enough assets to pay off at least most of the business debts, they might be able to pay off the remainder over time and not be able to go through the Offer in Compromise. The lawyer will closely look at the business assets, debts, and other finances to see what the right steps to take will be for that particular business. The lawyer may also be able to look into other help for the business owner, like a Tax Offset Program, to help them fulfill all of the debts and finish closing the business properly.
Choosing to do an Offer in Compromise depends on quite a few factors surrounding the business's current financial situation and can be a good idea for some businesses. A business owner will want to speak with a lawyer to find out if it's the right step for their business or if there's an option that might be better for them. If you're closing a business and not sure how to handle your debts or are worried about an Offer in Compromise, contact a lawyer today for help.
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 personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of $58,000. The client received a notice of Intent to initiate Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) Proceedings. We represented the client at the hearing and successfully defeated the AWG Order based on several legal and equitable grounds.
The client personally guaranteed an SBA 504 loan balance of $375,000. Debt had been cross-referred to the Treasury at the time we got involved with the case. We successfully had debt recalled to the SBA where we then presented an SBA OIC that was accepted for $58,000.
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.
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