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Impact of EIDL Loan Defaults on Credit and Treasury Actions

Defaulting on a COVID EIDL loan can seriously affect your credit and trigger federal collection actions like the Treasury Offset Program. Learn what happens and how to protect yourself.

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Impact of EIDL Loan Defaults on Credit and Treasury Actions

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program offered essential support to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as repayment obligations set in, many borrowers now face the harsh consequences of defaulting on these federal loans. Understanding how EIDL loan defaults impact credit and trigger federal collection efforts is essential for protecting your financial and legal well-being.

What Happens When You Default on an EIDL Loan?

An EIDL loan default occurs when a borrower fails to meet their repayment obligations under the loan agreement. This may happen due to business closure, cash flow shortages, or misunderstandings about repayment timelines.

Once in default, the SBA initiates a multi-step collection process that can have long-lasting financial consequences.

Step-by-Step Overview of the Collection Process:

  1. Initial Delinquency Notifications: Missed payments prompt warning letters from the SBA or a servicing agent.
  2. Transfer to Treasury for Collection: If unresolved, the loan may be transferred to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for enforced recovery.
  3. Treasury Offset Program (TOP): The Treasury can withhold tax refunds, Social Security payments, and other federal benefits to repay the debt.
  4. Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG): In some cases, up to 15% of your disposable wages may be garnished without court approval.

How EIDL Loan Defaults Affect Your Credit

While EIDL loans are federal debts, they can still indirectly affect your credit in the following ways:

  • Reporting to Credit Bureaus: The SBA may report defaults to commercial credit reporting agencies, especially for larger loans or personally guaranteed debts.
  • Impact on Business Credit: If the loan was issued to an entity, the business’s credit profile may be downgraded, affecting future access to financing.
  • Personal Credit Damage: If a personal guarantee was required, the default can negatively affect the individual’s credit score and borrowing capacity.

Treasury Department Collection Tools

The Department of the Treasury possesses robust enforcement tools under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. These include:

  • TOP Offsets: Intercepting federal payments (tax refunds, benefits).
  • Cross-Servicing: Assigning debt to private collection agencies.
  • Referral to DOJ: In extreme cases, legal action may be pursued through the U.S. Department of Justice.

These tools can be applied aggressively and often without a traditional court process, making it vital for borrowers to understand their rights and respond promptly.

What Borrowers Can Do

If you're facing EIDL loan collection actions, here are key steps to take:

  1. Respond to SBA or Treasury Notices Immediately. Ignoring them will escalate the situation.
  2. Request Documentation. Verify the debt and your payment history.
  3. Explore Repayment Plans or Settlement Options. In some cases, an Offer in Compromise may reduce your liability.
  4. Consult with a Legal Professional. Experienced attorneys can help navigate negotiations and defend against improper enforcement.

Conclusion and Call to Action

An EIDL loan default can lead to serious financial and legal consequences, from damaged credit to enforced federal collection actions. Understanding how the Treasury Offset Program works and taking timely legal action can make a critical difference in protecting your business and personal finances.

If you've received a notice related to your defaulted EIDL loan or are facing wage garnishment or tax refund interception, contact Protect Law Group today. Our experienced SBA loan attorneys can help assess your case, negotiate with federal agencies, and guide you toward the best possible outcome.

Bullet Point Summary

  • EIDL loan defaults can result in SBA transferring the debt to the Treasury for aggressive collections.
  • Credit scores may be negatively affected, especially if the loan was personally guaranteed.
  • Treasury Offset Program and wage garnishment are common enforcement tools.
  • Borrowers have rights and legal options to contest or settle the debt.
  • Legal representation can help protect against severe financial consequences.

Why Hire Us to Help You with Your Treasury or SBA Debt Problems?

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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

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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

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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.

$150,000 SBA COVID-19 EIDL – BUSINESS CLOSURE REVIEW & COLLATERAL RELEASE | NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION

$150,000 SBA COVID-19 EIDL – BUSINESS CLOSURE REVIEW & COLLATERAL RELEASE | NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION

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.

$750,000 SBA 7A LOAN – NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

$750,000 SBA 7A LOAN – NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

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.

$300,000 SBA 7A LOAN - SBA OIC TERM SETTLEMENT

$300,000 SBA 7A LOAN - SBA OIC TERM SETTLEMENT

Clients personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of over $300,000.  Clients also pledged their homes as additional collateral.  SBA OIC accepted $87,000 with the full lien release against the home.

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