Money Law Blog

It happened again this week. The client comes into the consultation smiling broadly. He just needs help with a loan modification, he argues. He doesn't have any other debts. "Look," he says, pointing at his credit report, "it's been charged off!"

Sorry, that's not what it means. A "charge off" is an accounting entry by the lender declaring that the debt is uncollectible, a determination that helps the lender deduct it as a loss against his taxes.

The "charged-off" account is still a live debt of the borrower until such time as the statute of limitations runs out and that can vary from three to seven years and depends also on the type of debt. In this area -- Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia -- you will need to check the law in the jurisdiction in which you reside.

So, remember, you are still "on the hook." In fact, many of these debts are sold to debt investors at a large discount, such as Portfolio Recovery Services, Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery, or LVNV Funding who make it a business to recover on this stuff via lawsuits and other means.

Also, it may be more harmful on your credit report as a "charge off" than actually eliminating all legal liability and having it read "discharged in bankruptcy."

One of the factors a mortgage lender takes into account when deciding on whether to grant a borrower a loan modification is that borrower's "back end" ratio. Too much other, non-home-related debt, such as charged-off, but still live debt, can nix the modication.

So don't rest easy just yet. Consult an attorney knowledgeable about debt issues, and see what the options are to deal with this.

Despite the image and stigma associated with bankruptcy, financial reorganization of failing businesses (and nonprofit organizations) through Chapter 11 bankruptcy is actually helping the economy by giving companies a chance to find new financing, reject onerous contracts, renegotiate leases, and expedite the sale of assets.

Harvard Business School recently published an article reviewing comments made by Stuart C. Gilson, a Harvard business professor and advocate of Chapter 11 bankruptcies in his new book, "Creating Value Through Corporate Restructuring: Case Studies in Bankruptcies, Buyouts, and Breakups." Gilson believes that the first step is getting the public to realize that Chapter 11 is not about "dying companies," but about "reviving" them.

During the financial crisis of 2008, debt restructuring and Chapter 11 played a heroic role in reviving the US economy. Not only does it speed up a company's reorganization process, but it focuses in on what is necessary to "rehabilitate" the company rather than focusing solely on paying back creditors and stakeholders. (US bankruptcy laws differ from other countries in that they strive to restore the companies facing bankruptcy in order to make them viable and competitive rather than simply liquidating them.)

Restoring Chapter 11's Image

Chapter 11 was often seen as slow and expensive, however, it is emerging and evolving in a way that allows "managers and financiers to work with companies facing bankruptcies and deal with them effectively and appropriately."

For example, one of the ways Chapter 11 is evolving is through the use of the "prepackaged bankruptcy." A "prepackaged bankruptcy" combines the traditional notions of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy while incorporating "out-of-court" restructuring. Companies are able to negotiate restructuring plans with creditors to give them assurance that once they file the actual bankruptcy, the creditors all will be on the same page.

Allowing for prepackaged bankruptcies gives companies the flexibility and assurance from creditors that they will "vote for the restructure plan once the firm officially enters into chapter 11." By choosing this path, it allows companies a chance to "avoid the steep costs associated with spending [time] in bankruptcy court."

Another emerging frequent use of Chapter 11 is for a bankrupt company to sell its assets in a competitive auction that is supervised by the courts under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. Companies who utilize this option can expedite the sell-off of their assets free and clear.

In addition to expedited asset sell off, Chapter 11 gives companies other options for generating income. During Chapter 11, the company pays no interest on any "pre-bankruptcy debts," they can "reject unprofitable leases" and "new lenders are given priority in the capital structure" using what is known as "debtor in possession financing" by new lenders gain super priority and stand ahead of pre-existing creditors. This priority encourages banks and other lenders to lend to companies in Chapter 11 rather than discourage it.

Should My Company Seek Advice From a Bankruptcy Attorney?

Chapter 11 is changing and becoming an integral part in saving US companies and the economy. If you feel your company or organization could benefit from filing for Chapter 11 it is advisable to speak with an attorney, and in particular an attorney familiar with bankruptcy practice in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. An attorney will evaluate your company's situation and determine whether you would benefit from reorganizing. Additionally, an attorney will aid you throughout the process as well as assist you through the restructuring process to meet your goals.

Bankruptcy is designed as a way for an insolvent debtor, one who cannot pay his or her creditors, to get a fresh start. Depending on the type of bankruptcy involved--Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13 for example--among the main functions of a bankruptcy court are to liquidate assets, discharge certain debts, or confirm a payment plan for non-dischargeable debts.

It can also serve as a way to dispute taxes, as illustrated in a recent Virginia bankruptcy court decision . In Harris v. Commonwealth, the debtor and his wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

In Chapter 7, also known as a liquidation bankruptcy, a trustee takes control of the "nonexempt" assets of the debtor's and reduces them to cash from which creditors will be paid. (Note that before the case is filed you and your attorney will know if there are any nonexempt assets, and can plan accordingly.) While certain unsecured debts are discharged under Chapter 7, certain types of debt, like child support and income taxes less than three years old, are not dischargeable.

Like almost all Chapter 7 cases, this case was determined to be a "no-asset case," where there were no assets available for liquidation or to pay creditors. All of the dischargeable debts that the debtor had were discharged and the only reason for the Chapter 7 action was to contest an income tax assessment. The assessment was for nearly $613,000, and was disputed by the debtor.

Tax courts have broad discretion to determine tax liabilities assessed before or after the debtor filed for bankruptcy. However, in "no asset" cases, where there are no assets to distribute, courts have usually abstained from deciding disputed tax matters. In these cases, the only avenue for debtors who have been assessed an incorrect amount of taxes is to pay the full amount of the taxes and subsequently sue for a refund in state court.

The Commonwealth argued that the bankruptcy courts should abstain from deciding the amount of tax a debtor owes in no asset cases since the decision will not affect the debtor-creditor relationship. However, the debtor argued that he would be severely prejudiced since he would be forced to pay well over half a million dollars BEFORE he could litigate the incorrect assessment in state court. Due to the enormity of the debt, the debtor argued that he would be unable to litigate and therefore would be denied the fresh start guaranteed by Chapter 7.

The debtor further argued that while he would be extremely prejudiced by having to pay the tax first and litigate in state court later, the Commonwealth would suffer no prejudice either way because, in the end, the Commonwealth will only get the correct amount of tax due. The debtor argued that all that his case required was a substantiation of the amount of gross revenue he received and then calculate the correct tax due, which would not be a complex matter and not take up too much of the bankruptcy court's time. This outcome would be the same in either bankruptcy or state court, but the procedure in state court would severely prejudice the debtor. In the end, the court agreed with the debtor and allowed the case to move forward in bankruptcy court.

What is interesting about this case is that it illustrates the possibility for other debtors in similar situations to litigate their tax matters in bankruptcy court. This can prove very beneficial to many people who are already considering bankruptcy and also want to clear up a tax matter but have not been able to get the government's attention to resolve it. It also may eliminate the requirement of having to pay a mistaken tax assessment and sue for a refund later. Since most people are filing for bankruptcy precisely because they cannot pay their bills, being able to litigate tax matters before actually having to pay an incorrect amount of tax may make a huge difference in getting the "fresh start" promised by bankruptcy.

A significant consideration in filing your bankruptcy case is "venue" -- that's legalese for the physical location of the court in which you file.

It's a powerful feature of bankruptcy -- especially for business bankruptcy cases under Chapter 11 - that you may be able to pick the court, and that, in turn, can have a bearing on the legal outcome.

A federal statute, 28 U.S.C. 1408(1), specifies where a bankruptcy case may be filed and applies to all types of bankruptcy, from Chapter 7 through Chapter 13. The statute provides options for filing your bankruptcy case.

The law says a debtor may choose to file in the federal court district in which his domicile, residence, principal place of business, or principal assets in the United States have been located for the past six months (or where they have been located for the longest part of those six months, if they have been located in several places during that time.)

This can work to the benefit of businesses in bankruptcy because they are often incorporated in one place but work principally and have assets located in several places. Venue is generally considered to be permissive, that is, proper wherever the case is filed, unless someone objects.

Thus, a debtor should ensure that the place for venue is the most favorable to his case. With venue selection, certain factors must be considered, including:

Consistency in Decisions. Predictable rulings by judges on a given set of facts, and other key players, such as the Office of the US Trustee in that court, is one of the most important factors in deciding where to file. Consistency will allow the debtor to make a reasonable prediction of the outcome of ruling in his case. Judges are humans, too, and have their own inclinations, so it's good to know that from the outset. And particularly with a relatively new bankruptcy law that has is only seven years old and is still being interpreted, there can be variance in published rulings from court to court, and even from judge to judge in the same court as we see here in our area covering Washington, DC, Northern Virginia (Alexandria Division of the Eastern District of Virginia) and suburban Maryland (Greenbelt Division of the District of Maryland).

"Debtor-Friendliness." Some judges and courts are consistently more "debtor friendly" than others. This is something regular practitioners in the courts will know from experience.

Responsiveness of the Court. Poor responsiveness can affect the timing of so-called "first-day hearings" -- hearings early in Chapter 11 cases where the debtor company ask the court for permission to, for example, access cash to make payroll for employees, key vendors, etc. Slow decision-making by the court in first-day hearing procedures can also signal a general lack of court responsiveness, as well.

These are just a few of the considerations that may well affect the outcome of a debtor's case. Debtors should be mindful of the various options for venue and the burdens and benefits they carry with them when deciding where to file their bankruptcy case.

Work with experienced bankruptcy counsel. For more than fifteen years, our law firm who has successfully handled cases in the various bankruptcy courts in this area of Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Call for a complimentary initial consultation.

I had to smile when I read the news that the banks were now lobbying to keep former Harvard bankruptcy professor and Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren from getting appointed to the Senate banking committee.

Lobbying is not cheap. It runs into the millions of dollars for a campaign. And, like most good businesspersons, I am sure the banks did some cost-benefit analysis in making this decision.

This action by the financial industry must mean they see a big threat to profits. And consequently, since bank profits and consumer losses are a zero-sum game, it also means her appointment to the committee could mean a big financial win for consumers. Granted, one person alone will not do it all, but the banks perceive she could have a significant effect on the outcome.

For consumers, let's hope the banks are not as successful with this campaign as they were in sinking her appointment to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a sort of consumer safety protection agency she dreamt up. Among the CFPB's primary goals is to prevent the reappearance of the bad mortgages that blew up in the mid-2000s and harmed so many average people and the nation's economy as a whole. It was passed as part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act.

We'll see.

Closer to home, and down at the grass-roots, our law firm focuses on helping consumers and small businesses in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland with financial problems. Call us, if you want to discuss your situation. We're not quite as feared as Elizabeth Warren right now, but we're working on it.

By now, many have heard the news that well-known former baseball player Jose Canseco recently filed for bankruptcy, mainly to deal with back taxes. What many have not seen, however, is the screed he published on the website, Vice.Com, and titled: "Jose Can Say So - I'm Broke and It's the Government's Fault."

Undoubtedly he intended it as a tirade against the government. But interestingly it also serves very well as a testimonial to the dangers of tax debt I have written about in the website of our DC-based tax and bankruptcy law firm. Some excerpts from his harangue and my comments:

" . . . [I]t's my duty to warn you: It can happen to anyone.

When you owe the government--whether it be state or federal--they are relentless when it comes to getting their money back. They institute incredible penalties and interest that almost makes it seem like they want to enslave you."

I have compared owing taxes to having a financial cancer - particularly because the debt grows at an alarming rate -- on the order of about 25% a year, due to penalties added on top of interest. Every month somebody comes to my office complaining that they had been in a payment plan with IRS (known as an "installment agreement") and "it has not gone down!" The reason is, invariably, that the small monthly payment they are making is not nearly enough to pay the interest and penalties that are accruing, let alone the tax (which is the principal, in this case).

Canseco does a good job in describing what it feels like when a person is literally drowning in tax debt:

"Recovering from something like that is very difficult. It's like swimming in the ocean. Once you get out past 100 yards, it looks like 200 yards and the farther you swim the harder it is to get back to shore; you're just swimming around forever and you can never reach the other side. The vastness just keeps expanding and expanding and expanding, by which I mean penalties and interest. Obviously, I've got issues from the past, but it just becomes so overwhelming that you're not even swimming anymore. You're just underwater, sipping air--sipping life even--through a little straw that's sticking through the surface. It's the most frustrating, unnatural thing I've ever had to go through--constantly being suffocated, choked out, and wondering if I could survive until the next day to make more payments on whatever I could."

Pretty good image huh? And he's not bad on describing the consequences either:

"For the last five or six or seven years I've just been trying to, well... live. I've been evicted from homes, lived in friends' converted garages, and bounced from house to house. Putting money into my account became a terrifying activity because there was a good chance the government would immediately confiscate it."

That's true. That's what happens. The tax debtor starts having to live an underground existence. It's pretty much living in the Third World with no bank account, no ATM, no credit, no nothing.

"Things got to the point where even my daughter Josie--her last name is Canseco--was drained one time. I think she said that they returned it, but anything relating to the Canseco last name became a nightmare. Let me tell you from first-hand experience, the IRS are a bunch of thirsty piranhas. They bled me dry."

True again. Even though the tax liability is legally only that of the debtor's, this type of problem will have an impact on your relationships, in a bad way. I'm sure his daughter is not happy with him, looking up to Daddy, and ready to blow him a lot of kisses. Think about what it will do to your marriage when your partner's account is also wiped out, even if only temporarily, or you can't contribute to the mortgage because your wages and bank account have been seized. It does not win friends.

"The issue is very simple: If you've got friends and family, the more money you make the more you spend on them. So let's say you spend half your money on them and the rest on yourself and the cost of living. It may so happen that during all of that you forget to pay your taxes. And then all of a sudden penalties and interest start to add up, and you're in a pool of quicksand from which you cannot escape."

Here, unfortunately, Canseco goes off into a justification and excuse for his actions. I won't comment on the merits of his arguments. You can read them for yourself. But saying that he "forgot" to pay taxes is an excuse right up there with "my puppy chewed up my homework" from grade school days. He may be able to handle a fastball, but he'll never get this past a judge.

A case like his will present some significant legal issues. According to news reports, the back taxes, which make up the bulk of his total debt, are more than $500,000. The key question is how much of that is non-dischargeable tax debt? I trust his bankruptcy attorney made a detailed analysis before filing and discussed the issues thoroughly with him, like we do in our bankruptcy and tax law firm for our clients in DC, Virginia and Maryland.

If it's not dischargeable, Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is what he filed, will not help him much. The tax debt will still be there when he finishes. Reorganization bankruptcy could give him the right to pay it back interest-free over time, but given his total debt of $1.69 million, he probably would have to file an individual Chapter 11. Chapter 11 for individuals in DC, Virginia and Maryland is always an option to consider and provides powerful relief, but is complicated, expensive, and at this point in time, changing as judge-made case law defines the new bankruptcy law that went into effect in 2005. Consult only an experienced bankruptcy lawyer.

Finally, given who he is, and the potential revenue streams he has available to him as a celebrity from intellectual property (endorsements, copyrights, etc.) that he could generate, I easily see a lot of objections from his creditors, the US Trustee, the US Attorney, and the Chapter trustee if he tries to walk away from this debt without a financial contribution of some sort.

Unlike a bankruptcy for the average person, this one should be a whole new ballgame.

Good luck, slugger.

For the rest of you, if you have questions, give our tax and bankruptcy firm a call.

Richmond, VA-based Suntrust Mortgage will pay out $21 million to more than 20,000 African-American and Hispanic home loan borrowers to settle a federal government suit charging discriminatory mortgage pricing from 2005 to 2009. The lawsuit charged Suntrust with violating the Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

This settlement comes on the heels of a settlement last December by Countrywide Financial Corp. and subsidiaries for $335 million for similar loans made between 2004 and 2008. Currently under investigation by the Department of Justice is Wells Fargo & Co.

"At the core (of the suit) is a simple story: If you are African-American or Latino, you likely paid more for a SunTrust loan than equally or similarly qualified white borrowers," Thomas E. Perez, assistant U.S. attorney general for the civil rights division, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a May 31, 2011conference call. "You paid what amounted to a racial surtax," ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per borrower," he told the newspaper.

The problem arose because of the way loan officers and mortgage brokers were incentivized, according to the lawsuit. The discriminatory charges (probably "yield spread premiums") boosted the commission for the loan agent when he or she could obtain an inflated price for a loan. Furthermore, the bank gave the loan officers and brokers free reign to do so by giving them broad discretion on prices beyond what should have been charged based on the customer's credit profile alone.

The investigation took two and half years and involved the review of more than 850,000 residential loans. Under the terms of the settlement, Suntrust will hire an independent administrator to contact the victims. Mailings are expected to begin at the end of this year. Suntrust admitted no wrong-doing.

The payout will average about $1,000 per person. However, in the opinion of this author, that will not nearly compensate the actual loss to many of the victims. Our law office has seen many who had homes with equity, refinanced during the height of the market, and then ended up losing both the equity and the home upon the collapse of the economy.

It's a sad state of affairs.

The emerging trend, according to a recent CNN Money article, is that the economy has tanked to the point people can't even afford to file for bankruptcy.

Probably true, based on the experience of this law firm. When the crash hit in 2007, the biggest problem was the wave of toxic mortgages re-setting to interest rates, and consequently payments, that shot to absurd amounts. Home owners couldn't make the payments, so bankruptcy was one way to eliminate the debt and stop the foreclosure long enough to get out of the house and not have to abandon your toothbrush and Fido. This event, in turn, triggered the economic down-turn, the lay-offs and decline in income that bring us to where we are today.

The 2005 "reform" of bankruptcy law has compounded the problem for debtors by requiring more paperwork and thereby increasing costs. Among the most ludicrous requirements is pre-filing debt counseling. Bankruptcy is the last thing debtors want to do. If debt management re-payment plans were a solution, they would be doing them.

The average attorney fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $1,500 (and that is more or less what bankruptcy lawyers charge in DC, MD and VA.) But, says the article, it is expected that between 200,000 and one million consumers will not be able to afford even that.

Our bankruptcy and tax law firm has recognized this reality. That is why we have set up a new program to make legal representation in bankruptcy more affordable to debtors in DC, MD and VA. The initial cost to start is minimal and the monthly payments within reach. In the meantime, you have legal representation, an advisor, and someone to "run interference" (if I may borrow a sports term) with creditors. Take a look: FINANCED BANKRUPTCY℠.

Call us, and we'll discuss your situation.

Samuel Clemens' (or Mark Twain, under his better-known pen name) complaint about the reports of his death having been greatly exaggerated is apt also for what most people think about bankruptcy: It's NOT the end of your life.

An essay by a high-tech entrepreneur and his personal bankruptcy that was published recently in the Washington Post makes this point very well.

I won't bother to comment on it, because the author himself does a masterful job of describing how his own financial problem developed, his bankruptcy filing, and the changes in his attitude about bankruptcy as he launches another new start-up company.

I commend it to anyone who is considering filing and still has doubts.

The author also makes some very good points about "boot-strap" financing a business and living debt-free.

If you want to discuss your situation personally, the initial consultation is free at our tax and bankruptcy law firm.

Often, debtors come to the bankruptcy lawyer's office after already having made costly mistakes that could easily have been avoided, including:

• Borrowing against a home to pay down credit cards. Now the debtor has turned what, in many cases, was unsecured debt, which could have been wiped out completely, into secured debt that the debtor must pay off or lose the house. Worst yet are predatory loans where the payments are so onerous as to make foreclosure almost a certainty.
• Borrowing against a 401K plan. The debtor takes a loan out against a 401K plan and then finds he can't make the payments. If the debtor defaults, a distribution of the full loan proceeds will be declared for that tax year. The debtor will now have a tax liability (that cannot be discharged) equaling about a third to a half of the loan taken out to pay debt that was probably dischargeable in the first place.
• Moving debt around to take advantage of low-interest credit card offers. If the debtor files bankruptcy within a short time after this transfer, lenders left "holding the bag" often move in court to block the discharge claiming fraud for incurring the debt when the debtor knew he would not be able to pay it back.
• Playing the "ostrich." Unable to face his or her financial problems, the debtor avoids getting help. For persons with back tax debts, the delay permits interest on priority taxes (that you must pay off) to build and also gives the IRS time to file a tax lien, again making what may have been a dischargeable tax debt into secured debt the debtor must now pay off.
• Getting help from the "one trick pony." When shopping for help, pay attention to 1) the range of solutions, and 2) the effectiveness of the solutions the debt professional offers. Ask questions of the following persons you approach for help:

Credit counselors. How much of my debt will be completely wiped out? Will I have to pay income taxes for the debt that is wiped out? (You probably will, especially if the creditor reports "cancellation of debt" income for you to the IRS.) How much will I have to pay in total? How many months will it take to be debt free? How much total principal and how much total interest will I pay? Will my interest rates go up?

Accountants and enrolled agents. For debtors with tax debts, be aware that neither one of them can offer the bankruptcy option unless they have a license to practice law. Usually they will offer only an offer in compromise, which may not be the best option for your case, or an installment agreement which is almost no relief at all. Ask: Would this tax debt be dischargeable in bankruptcy? Are you making a guarantee that my offer will be approved? What amount will be accepted as an approved offer by the IRS? How long will it take? As for an installment agreement, it's just that: Pay over time while interest and penalty charges continue to grow.

Attorneys who practice only Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This is a bit like going to a doctor who can prescribe only one type of medicine. Your specialist should be able to perform a full diagnosis and then prescribe a range of treatments. Ask: Does the attorney prepare, file and represent debtors in Chapter 13 or Chapter 11? What are the local Chapter 13 trustee's preferences as to the type of plans he or she will accept? How much of his or her practice is devoted to bankruptcy? How long has he or she been practicing this area of the law? For tax problems, does the attorney practice before the IRS? What options does he or she offer?

If you think you may be facing a debt problem, get some advice. The earlier, the better.


Our tax and bankruptcy law firm serves Virginia, Maryland and DC. Call us.

Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer by profession, was exactly on the mark when he said: "A lawyer's advice and time are his stock in trade." That's what we sell -- our time (as well as our knowledge).

Now put that together with another old, but very true, saying: "You get what you pay for." So. . . when you go for cheap, you are bound to get less of that lawyer's time and attention. I have explained how this works before here in a prior blog posting about cheap lawyers and bankruptcy mills.

I state the foregoing (if you will indulge me in a little legalese) as an introduction to the present rant. Excuse me while I spout.

This the second time in a week that I am doing a consultation answering legal questions for former clients of a bankruptcy attorney who bills himself as the "#1 Bankruptcy Filer" in his state. (Although that statement connotes he's the best in quality (an advertising assertion, which, by the way, may run afoul of the state bar association professional ethics rules) actually it just means his office happened to file more cases than anyone that calendar quarter).

It's annoying, to put it mildly, and infuriating, to be more precise. I'm spending my time, doing a free consultation and clarifying issues that should have been explained by the attorney they paid to do the case.

It points up something that you need to take into account when you hire your bankruptcy attorney: Make sure he or she, or knowledgeable staff, is available and competent to answer your questions. This is the intangible that represents the real value when you hire a legal adviser.

Don't be one of those who calls around asking: "How much do you charge?" You'll get a low, low price and nobody there to provide you with a key component of the service: counseling. It's not for nothing that attorneys are also referred to as "counsel."

Don't get short-changed. The attorney and staff, while sometimes not immediately available, should eventually be able to answer your questions -- before you have to go elsewhere.

Call our law firm if we can help you.

Bankruptcy is a very effective tool to deal with financial problems. There are times, however, when it just does NOT make sense. The following facts are from a consultation where I advised AGAINST a filing.

The gentleman had a condominium which had become a financial burden. Like a lot of property purchased shortly before the financial crisis, this one had depreciated significantly. It was a small, 840 square foot condo purchased for about $300,000 in 2006. Upon listing with a realtor, the best offer he could draw $185,000, but the lender would not approve the short sale. He had two mortgages. The payment on the first was about $1,400/month, and the second was about $400/month. The monthly condo fee was $275/month. With rent coming in at $1,500/month, he had to put in $575 a month from his own pocket to carry it. He had recently been pre-approved for a loan to purchase a larger $400,000 for his wife and new baby. He complained he could not afford to keep on paying the condo.

Given his income of $82,000 a year and wife's $51,000 a year, if they declared bankruptcy, they would likely not qualify for a simple Chapter 7 and would have to pay all disposable income into the court for the next five years. Furthermore, the wife had $16,000 in a money market fund, so the minimum contribution over time would have to be a minimum of $11,000. (Since the couple lived in Virginia, that state's $5,000 homestead exemption would apply.)

I advised him that bankruptcy should be only a last resort. Instead, there are other options that should be explored first. The $16,000 cash (and possibly additional funds from a hardship distribution from the $60,000 they had in a 401K) could be dangled in front of the second mortgage lender to try to obtain a lump sum payment in return for a release of the second mortgage. The second mortgage was, for all practical purposes unsecured, so that if the property went to foreclosure, the second would end up with nothing anyway. Some money would be better than none, to this lender.

Once the second mortgage was gone, the net negative income would drop to about $175/month, which could be manageable with some belt-tightening of his household expenses. Furthermore, the net debt against the property would drop to about $232,000 (the amount of the first mortgage). With a present value of $185,500, the property could recover to positive range in a few years.

The situation would not be entirely cost-free, but the trade-off -- in this case -- to a bankruptcy filing, in my opinion, was worth it.

It's the policy of this office to be absolutely honest, even when we lose business. We win by knowing we do the right thing for our clients or prospects.

Nevertheless, in the end, it's the client's decision, and we respect that. Call our law firm, if you want to discuss your situation.

Practicing bankruptcy law in the greater Washington, DC area, we often get this question from nervous government employees and defense contractors: "If I file bankruptcy, will I lose my security clearance?"

The answer is: It's not the bankruptcy itself that is the problem. It's the underlying circumstances leading to the bankruptcy that is the determining factor.

Think about it. If you got a very serious illness and racked up a million dollars in medical bills you could not pay, and needed bankruptcy relief to stop the collection calls, lawsuits and garnishments, does the bankruptcy -- in any way -- reflect upon you personally as a security risk? Was the illness your fault? Is it evidence of a personality defect that would make it more likely you would breach security? I think you know the answer.

Where the circumstances leading to the bankruptcy were financial irresponsibility, then that's another matter. But then, the late charges, delinquencies, high credit balances, judgments, tax liens, etc. would already exist on your credit report. If anything, the bankruptcy would actually show you acting responsibility by exercising your legal right to "wipe the slate clean" and get the "fresh start" the law allows.

The US Air Force Academy's website discusses this issue and provides some interesting guidance: (The highlighted text is mine.)

The status of your security clearance can be affected, but it is not automatic. The outcome depends on the circumstances that led up to the bankruptcy and a number of other factors, such as your job performance and relationship with your chain of command. The security section will weigh whether the bankruptcy was caused primarily by an unexpected event, such as medical bills following a serious accident, or by financial irresponsibility. The security section may also consider the recommendations and comments of your chain of command and co-workers. This is an issue that can be argued both ways, so as a practical matter your security clearance probably should not be a significant factor in making your decision about whether to file bankruptcy. The amount of your unpaid debts, by itself, may jeopardize your clearance, even if you don't file bankruptcy. In that sense, not filing for bankruptcy may make you more of a security risk due to the size of your outstanding debts. By the same token, using a government-approved means of dealing with your debts may actually be viewed as an indication of financial responsibility. Eliminating your debts through bankruptcy may make you less of a security risk. There is no hard and fast answer here, with one exception: it never hurts to have a good reputation with your co-workers and your chain of command.

Call us and make an appointment. We'll analyze your situation, and discuss all options to address your problem in person.

Tis the time for resolutions. As an attorney specializing in the financial woes of small businesses and the self-employed in DC, VA and MD and drawing from my 22 years of experience, here are three tips to consider as you draw up your list for 2012:

1) Keep books. It's that simple. So many of the financial problems of small business could be solved simply by keeping regular books, including:

• Cash flow problems. This is almost certainly the leading factor causing a bankruptcy filing. Often, the business will actually be profitable or have positive net value, but because the managers have not managed the finances to maintain liquidity, they cannot pay bills on a current basis. This, in turn, leads to the debt enforcement actions that force the business to seek bankruptcy court protection so that it can reorganize its finances. It might have been avoided if the managers kept regular books and knew where they stood in terms of cash, account receivables and payables.


• Tax problems. Without keeping books, business may rely solely on what is in the bank account as a gauge of how they're doing. Unfortunately, the balance in the account does not take into account non-cash accruals that have built up during the year, the most critical being taxes. At year end, they don't have cash enough to pay the tax bill.


• Getting loans or selling your business. Persons evaluating the business as purchasers or lenders will not give you financing or top dollar unless there are regular books showing the business' performance over time or its ability to service the debt. (By the way, as a business owner you need to look at your business as a asset for eventually sale and not merely as a job provide you solely with income.)

Also, keep separate bank accounts for your business and personal life. This is a corollary to the first rule. If you're keeping books for your business to track your business' performance, you will have to create a separate business bank account.

2) Watch how you pay the people who work for you. Again, this is near the top of the list of small business problems seen by our DC-based tax and bankruptcy law firm. Know how the tax law distinguishes "independent contractors" from "employees," and how that law requires the business owner to withhold taxes and contribute to Social Security and Medicate for the latter, or face personal fines -- basically equal to that amount -- for NOT doing so. It's not fun.

3) Get help from professional accountants and business lawyers. No one wants to pay for advice at the front end, but when the problems hit, the cost can be much, much more. It's a cliche, but true: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

If you are looking for an accountant who will give you such all-important business advice, as well as accounting services, we recommend Business Wise Consulting, Inc., led by Dave Parikh, an MBA and CPA, based in Silver Spring, MD and serving small businesses in the Washington, DC area.

The evidence is coming in, and it makes absolutely perfect sense: The federal and state governments are ramping up tax examinations and collections to bring in more money.

Just this morning in our tax and bankruptcy law firm: Five new cases, not including the other tax cases on my desk. I sensed this was coming. It's a no-brainer for a policy-maker: Why raise taxes and antagonize the citizenry, when you can just enforce more aggressively what's already on the books?

The difference between what is collected on time and what is legally owed to the government is known as the "tax gap." IRS has examined the problem and published its a study.

IRS estimates that, for the 2001 year studied, the federal government was losing about 15 to 16.6 percent of the dollars owed to it. (Since most states mimic the federal tax scheme, the state loss in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia would be comparable.)

As a dollar figure, it amounts to between $312 billion and $352 billion. Collecting that is not chump change and would have a significant impact on public financing. Hence the collection initiative.

According to the study, there are three components making up the "tax gap":
1) Failure to file tax returns.
2) Underreporting of actual income on tax returns.
3) Underpayment of the tax stated on the tax return.

Underreporting occurs when the taxpayer files a return but omits reporting some income and/or overstates or takes deductions or credits to which they are not entitled, whether purposely or out of ignorance.

Underpayment occurs when the tax return is filed reporting the correct tax amount, but the taxpayer does not, or cannot, make full payment when due.

Many of the tax problems we see in this office can be traced to incompetent or downright criminal tax preparers. However, when the taxpayer is caught by the IRS or state tax agents the tax preparer will be of interest to them, but the tax preparer's conduct generally is not a defense for the taxpayer to the tax liability.

My advice: Avoid a tax preparer without demonstrated licensing, education, and experience. Some questions to ask:

• What are your credentials? Generally, you can trust tax preparation by a CPA, tax attorney, or a preparer with a large, national company that has been in business for a long time.


• Of what tax organizations are you a member? Membership in an organization indicates they are serious about what they do, want to keep up with developments in the field, and are not afraid to be in the company of peers.


• What education do you have? Look for a bachelors degree in accounting, finance, or business administration.


• Do you have a license? Attorneys need to be licensed in the state in which they practice or offer services, and CPAs have to pass a rigorous exam. Unfortunately, generally you do not have to be licensed to offer tax preparation services. (Although the IRS is considering licensing.) At a minimum, ask to see a business license, which is required in most jurisdictions. This will indicate the preparer is not afraid to make himself or herself known to the local government and meet some basic qualifications.

What the most current tax scams we are seeing perpetrated by fly-by-night tax preparers:

• Taking TWO head of household deductions by having the couple do two tax returns claiming they live in separate residences. Often they use a relative's address.


• Qualifying for the earned income credit or taking more exemptions by claiming children who do NOT reside with the taxpayer.

It's up to you to be informed. Be careful and seek out competent counsel.