A debit commission (from the Latin debere "to owe") was in the Holy Roman Empire a means to resolve the problems of over-indebted states.
This is partly due to the fact that Council would often delegate organizational matters to an imperial commission, such as regulating an inheritance of guardianship.
Usually they would be selected on the basis of geographical proximity to the parties, and would be members of the same Imperial Circle.
A few states (for example, the imperial city of Regensburg) had a privilege granted by Emperor Charles V, exempting them from the commissions system.
In extreme cases, the Emperor would permit the use of military force to support an imperial commission.
Cases dealt with by commissions spanned the full range of topics causing conflicts in the era.
One reason for this is that a debit commission was a "universal forum" in which all claims against this debtor would be considered.
All existing debts became responsibilities of the debit commission, who would treat all creditors equitably and fairly.
In bankruptcy proceedings, the Commission could arrange security measures and appoint a property manager.
When the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806, the legal basis for the imperial debit commissions ceased to exist.