Can a Business Loan be Forgiven if the Business Fails?
Discover key factors regarding business loan repayment obligations after a business failure. Explore SBA loan forgiveness options and consult with Protect Law Group.
Local attorneys help business owners when they are facing a possible default on their loans. When defaulting, this indicates that the lender has the legal right to start the foreclosure process. This process allows them to take possession of the property used as collateral and sell it at auction. A SBA Offer in Compromise is an opportunity to prevent the lender from taking these steps.
The small business owner receives a SBA demand letter once they have defaulted on their loan. The default indicates that the loan is at least ninety-days delinquent. It also allows the lender to acquire full payment of the loan. Once the borrower has acquired a SBA loan default, they should approach an attorney. The attorney could help them find a more reasonable solution instead of foreclosure.
The attorney discusses the possibilities with the lender. Together they determine the most fair and reasonable percentage to settle the loan default. This percentage could be as much as fifty percent of the total value required. By submitting this offer to the lender, the borrower could keep their business operating and reduce the financial impact of settling the debt.
The attorney prepares the documentation for the offer. They submit the documents to the lender. Upon acceptance, the lender provides the borrower with the correct documents for finalizing this process. Once the offer is accepted the SBA loan foreclosure stops.
However, if the property was used as collateral to secure the loan the lender may collect it as well. The attorney should review the terms of the settlement with the borrower to identify any clauses that affect ownership of the property. If possible, the attorney may negotiate a settlement that allows the business owner to keep the property based on how much equity they have accumulated.
Local attorneys could help small business owners avoid foreclosure through a settlement offer. This offer helps them to prevent major damage to the business owner's credit. It could also help the business owner avoid the requirement of paying the full outstanding balance of the loan. Business owners who need to acquire help with a default or need a 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.
Clients obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for their small business in the amount of $298,000. They pledged their primary residence and personal guarantees as direct collateral for the loan. The business failed, the lender was paid the 7(a) guaranty money and the debt was assigned to the SBA. Clients received the Official 60-Day Notice giving them a couple of options to resolve the debt balance directly with the SBA before referral to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. The risk of referral to Treasury would add nearly $95,000 to the SBA principal loan balance. With the default interest rate at 7.5%, the amount of money to pay toward interest was projected at $198,600. Clients hired the Firm with only 4 days left to respond to the 60-Day due process notice. Because the clients were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) due to the significant equity in their home and the SBA lien encumbering it, the Firm Attorneys proposed a Structured Workout to resolve the SBA debt. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist assigned to the case approved the Workout terms which prevented potential foreclosure of their home, but also saved the clients approximately $294,000 over the agreed-upon Workout term with a waiver of all contractual and statutory administrative fees, collection costs, penalties, and interest.
The clients are personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan. The SBA referred the debt to the Department of Treasury, which was seeking payment of $487,981 from our clients. We initially filed a Cross-Servicing Dispute, which was denied. As a result, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals asserting legal defenses and supporting evidence uncovered during the discovery and investigation phase of our services. Ultimately, the SBA settled the debt for $25,000 - saving our clients approximately $462,981.
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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