This article discusses bankruptcy generally, and how creditors can recover debts owed by taking bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor. It also discusses how a person becomes bankrupt and the consequences that follow.
This article discusses bankruptcy generally, and how creditors can recover debts owed by taking bankruptcy proceedings against a debtor. It also discusses how a person becomes bankrupt and the consequences that follow.
Bankruptcy can occur by an order of the Court or voluntarily. Less commonly, bankruptcy can be applied for by the legal personal representative of a deceased person.
If a Creditor is owed a debt, they may seek to enforce the debt by taking bankruptcy proceedings against the Debtor at the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. This may only be done when the debt owed is $10,000 or more.
There are a number of ways creditors can bankrupt debtors. The most common procedure would involve the following steps:
A Debtor may oppose a Creditor’s Petition by filing grounds of opposition at least three days before the hearing of the petition. Grounds for opposition may include that the Debtor did not commit the act of bankruptcy as alleged (eg the Bankruptcy Notice was not served properly); the Debtor does not owe the amount claimed (eg the debt was repaid or the Court Judgment for the debt is being appealed); or an agreement has been made with the Creditor to repay the debt.
If a Debtor is struggling to pay their debt and looking to stop a Creditor from chasing the debt, there are a few things a Debtor can do prior to petitioning for bankruptcy. These options include: negotiating informal arrangements or formal debt arrangements (like a Debt Agreement or Personal Insolvency Agreement); or obtaining interim relief in the form of a declaration of intention to present a Debtor’s petition, which stops creditors from taking debt enforcement action for a period of 21 days.
However, when these arrangements fail, bankruptcy proceedings could be commenced by either the Creditor or the Debtor.
If a Debtor is unable to pay their debts as they become due, and if no suitable repayment plan can be made with their Creditors, the Debtor may have to apply to become a bankrupt. Upon becoming bankrupt, almost all unsecured creditors cannot take any further legal action to recover the debts owed. This is done through lodging a Debtor’s Petition for Bankruptcy. Approximately 80% of bankruptcies that happen in Australia occur through a Debtor’s Petition for Bankruptcy.
Applications for voluntary bankruptcy must be lodged with the Australian Financial and Security Authority (“AFSA”). Documents to be lodged with the AFSA include the Debtor’s Petition for Bankruptcy, a statement of affairs and an acknowledgement that the debtor has read the “prescribed information.”
Once the Petition is lodged with the AFSA together with the relevant documents, an Official Receiver needs to accept the Petition and issue a bankruptcy number. In some cases, the Official Receiver will not accept a Debtor’s Petition for Bankruptcy where from the information provided, it is likely that the Debtor can pay their debts and are avoiding payment of them. When lodging the Petition, the Debtor should be present in Australia.
It should be noted that unlike a Creditor’s Petition, there is no limit on the amount of debt owing before a Debtor’s Petition of Bankruptcy may be filed.
Bankruptcy generally lasts for a period of three years (but can be extended to five or eight years in some cases). However, the bankrupt’s name would be permanently recorded on the National Personal Insolvency Index, which can be assessed by the public upon payment of a fee.
Credit reporting agencies would also keep a record of the bankruptcy, normally for a period of seven years.
When a Debtor becomes bankrupt, a Trustee is appointed to administer the bankruptcy. The Trustee would try to pay the Debtor’s creditors by:
Being bankrupt does not limit the amount that a person can earn. However, earning an income over a certain threshold will require the bankrupt person to make compulsory payments to the trustee. Compulsory income contributions are comprised of 50% of the amount earned over the income threshold. For example, if the bankrupt person earns $10,000.00 over the income threshold, he or she will have to pay $5,000.00 to the trustee.
The current base income threshold is $59,559.50 (after tax) if the bankrupt person has no dependents. A person is considered dependent under section 139K of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 if he or she resides with the bankrupt person and relies on them either wholly or partly for financial support. A person can determine the compulsory payments they would have to make via the income contributions calculator here (click): Income contributions calculator (afsa.gov.au).
During bankruptcy, a person can keep and save their income in their bank account (provided they do not have to make compulsory payments). Regarding employment, a bankrupt person is generally not allowed to become a company director. They can run their own business, but they may be subjected to restrictions.
If a Debtor has been made bankrupt by a Sequestration Order or voluntarily, the Debtor will generally be automatically discharged from bankruptcy three years and one day from:
(a) when the completed Statement of Affairs has been accepted by ITSA (for bankruptcy made under a Sequestration Order); and
(b) when the Debtor’s Petition and Statement of Affairs was filed (for voluntary bankruptcy).
Bankruptcy can be annulled (meaning cancelled) in certain circumstances. The three ways to get an annulment include:
(a) the Debtor paying their debts in full (including the Trustee’s costs);
(b) coming to an arrangement with Creditors to pay less than the owed amount in satisfaction of the full debt; and
(c) via a Court Order.
If a bankruptcy is annulled, the public record would have a permanent record showing that the bankruptcy was annulled.
Comasters can help creditor clients to apply for a Sequestration Order, or help debtor clients defend a bankruptcy action.
© Comasters May 2013. Revised September 2021.
Important: This is not advice. Clients should not act solely on the basis of the material contained in this paper. Our formal advice should be sought before acting on any aspect of the above information.
Comasters Law Firm and Notary Public is a commercial legal practice in Sydney. We conduct matters in a range of legal areas. Whilst based in Sydney, Comasters maintains close links with business people across the Asia Pacific region.