If your application for PPP loan forgiveness is denied by the SBA you have appeal rights. Learn more about how to assert your rights to an appeal.
Book a Consultation CallPPP Forgiveness Appeal
You will have filed your application to forgive your PPP loan. Unfortunately, the lender denied your forgiveness application. What if your loan isn't forgiven in full? You will have to repay any amount of the PPP loan at a 1% interest over a 5 year term. However, loan payments will be deferred for six months but will start incurring interest immediately. Moreover, PPP loans have no fees and no prepayment penalties. Nevertheless, you can appeal the decision.
You can only have a decision by the SBA reviewed. Therefore, you must request a review by the SBA within 30 days of the lender's decision. If the SBA denies after review, you can proceed to an appeal. Furthermore, you can appeal based on several grounds as follows:
If the SBA based its denial on one of these factors you can appeal the decision.
You file your appeal with the SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals or OHA. Thereafter, the OHA assigns your case to an administrative law judge (ALJ). In a nutshell, an ALJ presides over administrative hearings with the government. Furthermore, the SBA will appoint an attorney to represent its interests in the appeal. As such, you should also have experienced legal representation advocating for your interests.
You only have a short time to file your appeal. As such, you must file your appeal within 30 calendar days after your receipt of the final SBA loan review decision. Alternatively, you only have 30 days from your notification by the lender of the final SBA loan review decision. Keep in mind, the deadline starts running from whichever notification you receive first.
In order to successfully appeal, you must prove that the SBA based its loan review decision on clear error of fact or law. Furthermore, you have the burden of proof. To that end, you must show such error by a preponderance of the evidence.
To meet your burden of proof, you will need to submit various documents described by SBA rules. Moreover, you will have to include a legal brief showing how the facts and law prove the SBA made an error.
Our attorneys have the experience to assertively represent you in front of the OHA. We have argued scores of appeals on behalf of our clients. Contact our offices today to set up your consultation with one of our attorneys.
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 COVID EIDL for $301,000 pledging collateral by executing the Note, Unconditional Guarantee and Security Agreement. The business defaulted on the loan and the SBA CESC called the Note and Guarantee, accelerated the principal balance due, accrued interest and retracted the 30-year term schedule.
The loan was transferred to the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service which resulted in the statutory addition of $90,000+ in administrative fees, costs, penalties and interest with the total debt now at $391.000+. Treasury also initiated a Treasury Offset Program (TOP) levy against the client's federal contractor payments for the full amount each month - intercepting all of its revenue and pushing the business to the brink of bankruptcy.
The Firm was hired to investigate and find an alternate solution to the bankruptcy option. After submitting formal production requests for all government records, it was discovered that the SBA failed to send the required Official 60-Day Pre-Referral Notice to the borrower and guarantor prior to referring the debt to Treasury. This procedural due process violation served as the basis to submit a Cross-Servicing Dispute to recall the debt from Treasury back to the SBA and to negotiate a reinstatement of the original 30-year maturity date, a modified workout, cessation of the TOP levy against the federal contractor payments and removal of the $90,000+ Treasury-based collection fees, interest and penalties.
Our firm successfully facilitated the SBA settlement of a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) where borrower received an SBA disaster loan of $150,000, but due to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business was unable to recover.
Despite the borrower’s efforts to maintain operations, shutdowns and restrictions significantly reduced the customer base and revenue, making continued operations unsustainable. After a thorough business closure review, we negotiated with the SBA, securing a resolution where the borrower paid only $6,015 to release the collateral, with no further financial liability for the owner/officer.
This case demonstrates how businesses affected by the pandemic can navigate SBA loan settlements effectively. If your business is struggling with an SBA EIDL loan, we specialize in SBA Offer in Compromise (SBA OIC) solutions to help close outstanding debts while minimizing financial burden.
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.
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