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Is Striking Off a company the best solution?

March 3, 2015 5:00 am / 1 Comment on Is Striking Off a company the best solution?

Closing down stamp

Companies House guidance states…
A company may apply to the registrar to be struck off the register and dissolved. The company can do this if it is no longer needed. For example, the directors may wish to retire and there is no one to take over from them; or
it is a subsidiary whose name is no longer needed; or it was set up to exploit an idea that turned out not to be feasible. Some companies who are dormant or non trading choose to apply for strike off. If you have
decided that you no longer want to retain your company and wish to have it struck off, the registrar will not normally pursue any outstanding late filing penalties unless you restore the company to the register at a later stage.
Form DS01 is used to apply for striking off and guidance GP4
An alternative, if the business has assets is to use an Members Voluntary Liquidation (MVL).
  1. The Insolvency Practitioner will ask your Accountant to confirm that the clients tax affairs are inorder and that appropriate advice has been given
  2. Final Accounts will need to be prepared and creditors paid
  3. A Declaration of Insolvency will be signed – The declaration of insolvency demonstrates that the company will be able to settle or secure liabilities and the costs of liquidation within 12 months
  4. A meeting of Shareholders will appoint the Insolvency Practitioner
  5. Notices will be posted at Companies House and in the London Gazzette
  6. Then the MVL can be a carried out and funds distributed
  7. Arrangements can be put in place to allow the directors access to funds during the process

Here are my top 5 reasons why an MVL might be a good choice:

  1. The change in 2012 capped capital distributions on striking off at £25,000 but this cap does not apply to liquidations
  2. You want to retire and close your business and extract the net worth
  3. You created a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for a specific project and the company is no longer needed
  4. Companies that are stuck off can be re-instated but that’s not the case with liquidated companies
  5. Entrepreneurs Tax Relief may be applicable meaning the capital distribution is taxed at 10%
You may also consider disincorporation.
steve@bicknells.net

The most tax efficient way for a contractor to close their business

March 24, 2014 7:09 am / Leave a comment

Balance sheet business diagram

Consultants who work as contractors often build up funds their limited companies, they do this as a safe guard because being a contractor, there can be gaps between contracts and they will need cash to carry themselves through to the next contract.

But what if they decide to retire or they get offered their dream job as an employee, they may have lots of assets and cash in their company, perhaps more that £25,000.

They might even find that their main client insists they become employees for example

Some of the BBC’s biggest freelance stars could be asked to join the payroll or leave the corporation, as a new test aims to clear up tax issues.

It is part of a clampdown on the use of personal service companies (PSCs) and a move to tax more freelancers at source.

BBC News 7th November 2013

How could they close the company and use Entrepreneurs Tax Relief to pay 10% tax?

They could use a Members Voluntary Liquidation (MVL).
  1. The Insolvency Practitioner will ask the Contractor’s Accountant to confirm that the clients tax affairs are inorder and that appropriate advice has been given
  2. Final Accounts will need to be prepared and creditors paid
  3. A Declaration of Insolvency will be signed – The declaration of insolvency demonstrates that the company will be able to settle or secure liabilities and the costs of liquidation within 12 months
  4. A meeting of Shareholders will appoint the Insolvency Practitioner
  5. Notices will be posted at Companies House and in the London Gazzette
  6. Then the MVL can be a carried out and funds distributed
  7. Arrangements can be put in place to allow the directors access to funds during the process
Using an MVL should mean you can claim Entrepreneurs Tax Relief and pay 10% tax.
Before doing an MVL you should consider whether alternative options such as paying dividends might be more appropriate or whether the cost of the MVL exceeds the potential tax saved or whether Strike Off and ESC C16 could be used.
steve@bicknells.net

Why would you liquidate a solvent company?

March 9, 2014 2:55 pm / 3 Comments on Why would you liquidate a solvent company?

Balance sheet business diagram

If you have a company which is no longer needed you have the following options:

  1. You can just keep it as a Dormant company
  2. You could strike it off at Companies House
  3. You could carryout a Members Voluntary Liquidation

If the company has assets the shareholders will want to release the assets and get hold of the money, so keeping it Dormant isn’t going to help.

Since March 2012, in the case of Strike Offs, ESC C16 has allowed the distribution of up to £25,000 as a Capital Distribution rather than as Income.

However, if you have assets in excess of £25,000 distributions can only be treated a Capital if the distributions are made through a formal liquidation.

With Entrepreneur’s relief, money paid to shareholders will only be subject to tax at 10% on the capital gain.

There could also be other benefits too.

steve@bicknells.net