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A bulk sales law isn't about selling in bulk. Rather, these federal and state laws are about companies selling business assets to one buyer outside of the normal course of business. Bulk sales are sometimes called "bulk transfers" because they are often transferred to another business entity.
State bulk sales laws are enacted to prevent businesses from avoiding sales taxes. Federal laws on bulk sales relate to preventing attempts to keep assets from creditors in bankruptcy.
State bulk sales laws fall under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) since they involve credit. Each state has its own UCC regulations and each state handles bulk sales differently. In Pennsylvania, for example, bulk sales regulations kick in when more than 51% of a business's assets are sold or transferred. At this point, a bulk sale clearance certificate is required.
On a federal level, several laws and procedures, including the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, both apply to bulk sales or transfers for businesses in bankruptcy. The bankruptcy court requires notices to sell assets and fair procedures to make sure assets are not sold for less than their value. But you can sell assets in bankruptcy if you follow proper procedures. The bankruptcy code provides that transfer taxes won't be applied if the sale takes place under bankruptcy rules.
The penalties for violation of bulk sales laws depend on federal bankruptcy laws and on bulk sale laws in the state where the bulk sale took place.
Generally speaking, laws regarding bulk sales exist for two important reasons:
Most states have repealed bulk sales laws, but a few still have them.
If a company is going out of business and it sells its inventory at an auction, with many buyers at fair value, it likely isn't a fraudulent bulk sale. While the auction isn't in the ordinary course of business, it is public and the assets can be counted and the proceeds used in the bankruptcy process.
Before a bulk sale, in some jurisdictions, the business must file some kind of statement or affidavit to let creditors know that the sale is taking place. States require registration of bulk sales so that the sales taxes due can be collected. In New York, for example, the purchaser must notify the state of a pending bulk sale by completing a form reporting "Notification of Sale, Transfer, or Assignment in Bulk."
Bulk sales that don't follow state or federal rules can be in jeopardy of being illegal.
Many businesses, including especially retail businesses, operate on credit. They buy inventory on credit hoping to sell it for a profit before the credit terms come due. Selling these assets in bulk to avoid creditors causes two problems:
Fraudulent transfers are similar to bulk sales. These transfers are fraudulent because they attempt to defraud creditors in bankruptcy by transferring assets out of one business to another or selling them for less than they are worth. In these cases, the business moves assets to a related company or another company owned by the same owner. The creditors are deprived of the money from the sale of these assets.
To avoid problems with bulk sales laws, don't make any transfers that could be seen as a bulk sale without checking with your attorney. If your business is in bankruptcy proceedings, be sure to check with your attorney or your trustee (if you have one) before you make any decisions.
If you are considering a sale or transfer of assets, contact your attorney and alert the buyer that sales tax may have to be charged.
In general, the rules for a bulk transfer are based on the state the transfer takes place in. Typically, you'll have to file a notice of sale so your creditors are aware the sale is taking place.
While the rules and laws for bulk sales may change from state to state, a bulk sales transaction is a sale or transfer that takes place outside of the normal course of business and involves more than 51% of a business's assets.
