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Is There A Way to Get Out of An SBA Loan?

Whether you have defaulted on an SBA loan or have moved on from your business partners options exist for eliminating your debt.

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Is There A Way to Get Out of An SBA Loan?

Whether you have defaulted on an SBA loan or have moved on from your business partners but still remain liable for an SBA loan, options exist for eliminating your debt.

Your Liability for an SBA Loan

If your business obtained an SBA loan, you more than likely signed a personal guarantee.  This personal guarantee states that although the business was the borrower for the loan, you remain personally liable if the business defaults on the SBA loan.

If you were a partner in a business and left the business, were bought out of the business or gave the business to your spouse as part of a divorce the personal guarantee means you remain liable for the debt even thought you have nothing to do with the business.

In either case, you need a strategy to resolve your personal liability on the SBA debt.

Offer in Compromise

If the business defaulted on the SBA loan and the SBA seeks satisfaction from you personally, an offer in compromise exists as a solution.  An offer in compromise means that you offer to settle the debt from something less than the deficiency.

The amount of the compromise will depend on many factors such as your assets and liabilities; your income and expenses; the amount the government could collect from you through enforced collection; and "litigative risks" the government faces if it did attempt to enforce collection.  Every situation and fact pattern is unique.  The range for an offer in compromise can be as little as 2 cents on the dollar and as high as 90 cents on the dollar.

Repayment Plan

An alternative to the offer in compromise is the repayment plan.  If your income is too high relative to the debt, for instance, the SBA may reject an offer in compromise.  A repayment plan allows you to repay the debt in full over time.

The benefits of a repayment plan include: 1. Preserving liquidity; 2. Preserving the opportunity to obtain government backed loans in the future such as FHA, VA or SBA loans; and 3. May affect your credit score less.

Personal Guarantee Release

If, however, the business remains operational but you are no longer involved in the business due to buyout, divorce, etc., you will want the SBA to release you from your guarantee.  This is easier said than done.

The SBA will naturally want something in return to let you out of your personal guarantee.  Moreover, the release must not: jeopardize the ability to maximize recovery on the loan; shift the risk of loss to SBA; or otherwise harm the integrity of the SBA loan program.  This means that a release will require that the SBA remain in as good or better position after the release than before the release.  Without some type of consideration for the release such as the substitution of another guarantor, it is unlikely that the SBA will approve the request.

Protect Law Group Provides Experienced, Assertive Legal Representation

Protect Law Group successfully handles SBA loan matters for clients all over the nation.  Our attorneys are experienced in dealing with the SBA and have the knowledge to successfully resolve your SBA loan problem.

Contact Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation

Contact us today at 833-428-0937 to set up your consultation or contact us at www. sba-attorneys.com

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.

$220,000 SBA 7A LOAN -DOT WAIVER OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES & COSTS

$220,000 SBA 7A LOAN -DOT WAIVER OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES & COSTS

Clients personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan that was referred to the Department of Treasury for collection.  Treasury claimed our clients owed over $220,000 once it added its statutory collection fees and interest.  We were able to negotiate a significant reduction of the total claimed amount from $220,000 to $119,000, saving the clients over $100,000 by arguing for a waiver of the statutory 28%-30% administrative fees and costs.

$1,500,000 SBA COVID-EIDL LOAN - SBA OHA LITIGATION

$1,500,000 SBA COVID-EIDL LOAN - SBA OHA LITIGATION

Small business and guarantors obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $1,000,000. Clients defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for collection. Treasury added nearly $500,000 in collection fees totaling $1,500,000. Clients were served with the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice and exercised the Repayment option by applying for the SBA’s Hardship Accommodation Plan. However, their application was summarily rejected by the SBA without providing any meaningful reasons. Clients hired the Firm to represent them against the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency.  After securing government records through discovery, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury. During litigation and before the OHA court issued a final Decision and Order, the Firm successfully negotiated a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, a modification of the original repayment terms, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.

$150,000 SBA 7A LOAN – NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

$150,000 SBA 7A LOAN – NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $150,000.  He and his wife signed personal guarantees and pledged their home as collateral. The SBA loan went into default, the term or maturity date was accelerated and demand for payment of the entire amount claimed was made.  The SBA lender’s note gave it the right to adjust the default interest rate from 7.25% to 18% per annum. The business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but was dismissed after 3 years due to its inability to continue with payments under the plan. Clients wanted to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would have been a mistake as their home had significant equity to repay the SBA loan balance in full as the Trustee would likely seize and sell the home to repay the secured and unsecured creditors. However, the SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection to the SBA. Clients then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and hired the Firm to respond to it and negotiate on their behalf. Clients disputed the SBA’s alleged balance of $148,000, as several payments made to the SBA lender during the Chapter 11 reorganization were not accounted for. To challenge the SBA’s claimed debt balance, the Firm Attorneys initiated expedited discovery to obtain government records. SBA records disclosed the true amount owed was about $97,000. Moreover, because the Clients’ home had significant equity, they were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise or an immediate Release of Lien for Consideration, despite being incorrectly advised by non-attorney consulting companies that they were. Instead, our Firm Attorneys recommended a Workout of $97,000 spread over a lengthy term and a waiver of the applicable interest rate making the monthly payment affordable. After back and forth negotiations, SBA approved the Workout proposal, thereby saving the home from imminent foreclosure and reducing the Clients' liability by nearly $81,000 in incorrect principal balance, accrued interest, and statutory collection fees.

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