Debt Resolution: What Are SBA Offers in Compromise (OIC)?
It's been a tough year for many small business owners. Find helpful information in our guide to Offers In Compromise and how to find legal assistance.
Small businesses could face serious financial issues that could lead to a SBA loan default. If this occurs, the lender is within their rights to file for a foreclosure. Once this begins, the business owner could face difficulty stopping it. A SBA Offer in Compromise could provide an opportunity to prevent the serious impact on the business owner's credit rating.
These offers are a settlement offered to the lender that is lower than the total outstanding balance. An attorney provides the borrower with an appropriate percentage to offer to the lender. They prepare the documentation of the settlement and submit to the lender. By representing the borrower, they help the business owner protect their business against further negative actions.
The first step for the business owner is to approach an attorney as soon as they receive the SBA demand letter. Once they receive the letter, they have a deadline assigned. The borrower must take action before this deadline or face immediate foreclosure. This could shut down their company entirely. It could also prevent them from acquiring a new business location in the future. Once the foreclosure occurs, the business owner is still responsible for the debt.
The attorney presents the settlement offer to the lender. They negotiate the settlement and may increase the percentage required. These loans are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration and require the business owner to submit a portion of the outstanding balance. The attorney works with the lender to determine a fair value and presents this value to the business owner.
Once the lender accepts the settlement, the remaining balance is written off. The attorney could help the business owner offset any additional taxes or fees. This could present the business owner with the most appropriate solution to stop the SBA loan foreclosure now.
Small business owners should take action when they receive a notification of default. A default gives their lender the right to file for a foreclosure and seize their property. For most small business owners, seizure could lead to a total shutdown of their business. Owners who need to acquire a settlement or Tax Offset Program 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.
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 resolved an SBA COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in the original amount of $150,000 for a Florida-based borrower. The loan, issued on June 4, 2020, was secured by business assets and potential personal liability through the SBA's Security Agreement.
Following the permanent closure of the business, we guided the client through the SBA’s Business Closure Review process and prepared a comprehensive collateral analysis. We negotiated directly with the SBA, obtaining a full release of the business collateral for $2,910 — satisfying the borrower’s obligations under the Security Agreement and eliminating any further enforcement risk against the pledged assets.
Our firm successfully resolved an SBA 7a loan in the original amount of $364,000 for a New Jersey-based borrower. The client filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy but the mortgage on his real estate securing the loan remained in place. The available equity amounted to $263,470 and the deficiency equaled $317,886.
We gathered the pertinent documentation and prepared a comprehensive collateral analysis. We negotiated directly with the SBA, obtaining a full release of the mortgage for $80,000.
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