Insolvency Guides for Company Directors
Start with a question or choose one of six clear topics. These plain-English guides cover warning signs, creditor pressure, directors' responsibilities, personal exposure and possible procedures.
49 guides shown across all categories.
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Explore HMRC and creditor pressure, personal risk for directors, or rescue and closure options.
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Bailiff action against a company
What bailiff action can mean for an insolvent company and what directors should do next.
Bounce Back Loans When a Company Cannot Pay
Understand the difference between an unpaid Bounce Back Loan and possible misconduct when a company is insolvent.
Can a company recover from insolvency?
When recovery is possible and when closure is more realistic.
Can a Director Be Personally Liable for Company Debts?
When limited liability may not protect a director from every company debt and which documents and decisions matter.
Can an Insolvent Company Be Struck Off?
Why voluntary strike-off is not normally a substitute for dealing properly with an insolvent company's creditors.
Can directors be personally liable for company debts?
When directors may become personally liable in insolvency situations.
Can directors continue trading while insolvent?
Whether a company can continue trading when insolvency is likely.
Can HMRC Close My Company?
How unpaid company tax can lead from collection activity to a winding-up petition, and why early action matters.
Can you buy a house after insolvency?
What insolvency means for future borrowing and buying a house.
Closing an insolvent company
A practical guide to closing an insolvent company in England and Wales.
Company Records to Preserve Before Insolvency
A practical checklist of records directors should preserve when the company is under serious financial pressure.
Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) Explained
How a CVL works, when it's the right option, and what directors should expect from the process.
CVL vs Compulsory Liquidation
Compare a Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation with liquidation ordered by the court.
Dealing with HMRC Debt
Options available to company directors who owe money to HMRC, including Time to Pay, restructuring, and formal insolvency routes.
Directors' Duties When Facing Insolvency
Your legal obligations as a director once your company is insolvent or approaching insolvency.
Directors' Redundancy Claims
A guide for directors on how to claim redundancy when their company enters insolvency.
Does insolvency write off debt?
Which company debts may end with insolvency and what may still continue afterwards.
HMRC Time to Pay for a Limited Company
How HMRC payment plans work, what to prepare and what to consider if the company cannot afford one.
How do you close an insolvent company?
The main steps in closing an insolvent company properly.
How long does insolvency stay on your record?
How long insolvency remains on records and what that means afterwards.
How much debt is needed for insolvency?
Whether there is a minimum debt level for insolvency in England and Wales.
Insolvency Service Director Investigations
What directors may be asked about after company insolvency and how to respond carefully and honestly.
Overdrawn Director's Loan Account and Insolvency
What an overdrawn director's loan account may mean when a company is struggling or enters insolvency.
Personal Guarantees When a Company Fails
How personal guarantees can create exposure separate from the company's debts and which documents matter.
Pre-Pack Administration Explained
How a pre-arranged business sale through administration works and the safeguards around connected-person purchases.
Reusing a Company Name After Liquidation
Restrictions that may apply when a director wants to use the same or a similar business name after insolvent liquidation.
Salary, Dividends and Drawings When a Company Is Struggling
How to distinguish salary, expenses, dividends and director's loan transactions during financial distress.
Strike off vs liquidation
The difference between strike off and liquidation for distressed companies.
Taking Customer Deposits When a Company Is Struggling
What directors should consider before accepting deposits, advance payments or new orders during financial distress.
What are preferential payments before liquidation?
How preferential payments can create risk for directors before liquidation.
What are the signs of insolvency?
A guide to the warning signs that a UK company may be insolvent.
What debts cannot be written off?
Which debts may survive insolvency and which do not.
What happens if a company cannot pay HMRC?
What directors should know about HMRC arrears, enforcement, and insolvency risk.
What happens if a company cannot pay its debts?
What directors should expect when a company cannot pay its debts in England and Wales.
What happens if a company gets a CCJ?
A guide to company CCJs and what they may lead to.
What Happens If a Winding-Up Petition Is Ignored?
Why ignoring a winding-up petition can rapidly reduce a company's options and what directors should prioritise.
What is a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)?
A guide to CVAs for companies seeking to restructure debt in England and Wales.
What is a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)?
How a CVL works for insolvent companies in England and Wales.
What is a statutory demand?
What a statutory demand means and what directors should do next.
What is a winding-up petition?
What a winding-up petition means for a UK company and its directors.
What is company administration?
How administration works and when it may protect a business in England and Wales.
What is compulsory liquidation?
A guide to court-driven liquidation following creditor action.
What Is Insolvency?
A plain-English introduction to company insolvency, what it means and the two main tests used in England and Wales.
What is the balance sheet test for insolvency?
How the balance sheet test works for UK companies.
What is the cashflow test for insolvency?
How the cashflow test works and what it means for directors.
What is wrongful trading?
A guide to wrongful trading under UK insolvency law.
What to Expect at a First Insolvency Advice Meeting
What a director may be asked, what to bring and what a first conversation should help clarify.
When is a company insolvent?
When a company becomes legally insolvent under UK law.
Who gets paid first in insolvency?
The general order of priority for creditor payments in insolvency.
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