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Proritizing Bills When Money Is Short

When you can't pay all of your creditors, decide which ones to pay first. While every situation will be different, this article suggests a base strategy for prioritizing payment importance.

Payroll and sales taxes

Unlike income taxes, you collect your employees' shares of payroll taxes and sales taxes as an agent for the appropriate taxing authority. You are merely holding this money in trust until you turn it over to the government. If you can't pay these taxes, it is not the same as not paying an ordinary bill. It is the same as having used the government's money for your own purposes, and the government will enforce severe penalties for failure to make payment. Even if your corporation goes bankrupt, the IRS may still seek payment from former officers or shareholders.

Income and other taxes

While it is usually possible to do some negotiating with the tax authorities regarding income taxes, particularly in arranging installment or delayed payments, the penalties and interest can be stiff. Also, once the IRS or other tax authority is determined to collect money from you, it will be quicker than any other creditor to place liens against your bank account or freeze your assets.

Utilities

If you are approaching a cutoff date for utility payments, remember that few utility companies will allow business customers to continue service use without paying bills in full. If you need electricity, water, heat or phones, don't fall too far behind in your payments.

Wages

If you miss even one payroll, your people will begin looking elsewhere for employment. Technically, if a company goes bankrupt, you will not be responsible for its debts, including payroll debt. But most companies in this situation find some way to pay their employees in full for work already completed. So should you.

Key suppliers

Pay your key suppliers enough money to continue delivery of those goods, materials, and/or services that are essential to the operation of your business.

Debtors

If you think your business may go under and you have personally borrowed money or personally guaranteed business loans to finance your company, consider paying these types of debtors before paying your key suppliers. No matter what happens to your company, including bankruptcy, funds borrowed from friends or relatives, funds used from home equity loans, any personal loans garnered for business use, and/or any business loans with personal guarantees will still be due and payable in full by you.

By Source Streetwise Small Business Start-Up

 

 
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