- Legal Basis
- § 15a InsO
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment up to three years or a fine
- Summary
- Failure to file for insolvency proceedings despite being obligated to do so as a company officer
Delayed Filing for Insolvency (Section 15a InsO)
Delayed filing for insolvency is one of the most common economic crimes in Germany. Managing directors and board members of corporations are obligated to file for insolvency proceedings without culpable delay — within three weeks of inability to pay or six weeks of overindebtedness at the latest. Late or omitted filing can result not only in criminal consequences but also in personal liability claims. This is a particularly important area for expats serving as directors of German companies.
Legal Basis
Section 15a(4) of the German Insolvency Code (InsO) provides:
“Anyone who, contrary to subsection (1) sentences 1 and 2, also in conjunction with sentence 3 or subsection (2) or (3), fails to file an opening petition, or files it incorrectly or not in a timely manner, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine.”
Section 15a(5) InsO also criminalises negligent commission (imprisonment up to one year or a fine).
Elements of the Offence
Persons obligated to file: The filing obligation applies to members of the representative body and liquidators of a legal entity (managing directors of a GmbH, board members of an AG, board members of an association, personally liable partners in a GmbH & Co. KG). De facto managing directors may also be subject to the filing obligation and thus qualify as perpetrators.
Ground for insolvency: There must be inability to pay (Section 17 InsO) or overindebtedness (Section 19 InsO). Inability to pay exists when the debtor is unable to meet due payment obligations. Overindebtedness exists when assets no longer cover liabilities, unless continuation of the business is predominantly probable.
Missed deadline: The insolvency petition must be filed without culpable delay. The maximum deadline is three weeks from the onset of inability to pay or six weeks from the onset of overindebtedness. These deadlines serve exclusively for restructuring purposes — if no restructuring is being pursued, the petition must be filed immediately.
Intent or negligence: Intentional commission is punished with up to three years’ imprisonment; negligent commission with up to one year.
Typical Methods of Commission
Classic cases include deliberately delaying the insolvency petition in the hope of economic improvement, incorrect assessment of the economic situation by the managing director, continuing business operations despite recognisable inability to pay while taking on new obligations, concealing inability to pay through deferral agreements or non-filing of annual accounts, and resorting to business splitting or shell company arrangements.
Sentencing Range
Intentional delayed filing for insolvency carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine. Negligent commission carries up to one year’s imprisonment or a fine. In addition, substantial civil liability risks arise: the managing director is personally liable for all payments made after the onset of material insolvency (Section 15b InsO) and for the so-called quota damage suffered by creditors.
Typical Defence Strategies
The defence frequently focuses on demonstrating that no ground for insolvency existed at the relevant time. The distinction between a temporary payment bottleneck (not criminal) and inability to pay (criminal) requires a precise business analysis. The overindebtedness assessment is also complex, as it requires a going-concern prognosis. Furthermore, it can be argued that the filing deadline had not yet expired because serious restructuring efforts were underway. In cases of negligent commission, it must be examined whether the managing director could and should have recognised the crisis — lack of commercial expertise may be exculpatory but may give rise to an organisational fault argument.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist Delayed Insolvency Filing?
Strafbar ist die nicht rechtzeitige Stellung des Insolvenzantrags durch Geschäftsführer oder Vorstand bei Zahlungsunfähigkeit oder Überschuldung (§ 15a InsO).
Welche Frist gilt?
Der Antrag ist ohne schuldhaftes Zögern zu stellen, spätestens binnen drei Wochen bei Zahlungsunfähigkeit und binnen sechs Wochen bei Überschuldung.
Welche Strafe droht?
Freiheitsstrafe bis zu drei Jahren oder Geldstrafe; auch die fahrlässige Begehung ist strafbar. Die Verteidigung setzt am genauen Zeitpunkt der Krise und an der Fortführungsprognose an.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Delayed Insolvency Filing? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Delayed Insolvency Filing requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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