What is an HMRC notice of distraint and what to do if my company receives one?
An HMRC notice of distraint is an enforcement action that enables HMRC with the power to seize company assets without having to petition to the court. This type of order is typically used by HMRC if a company has failed to pay their tax bills and if they have made several attempts to retrieve the debts in question, with no success.
If you have received a notice of distraint, or you’re worried about your company receiving one it is important to take it seriously and act quickly, or face having company assets seized. We can help give you guidance and support as to your options in dealing with a notice of distraint.
What is a notice of distraint?
Distraint is an enforcement action that enables HMRC to use its resources to pick up any remaining debts it might have waiting from businesses. The first task will be to send out CCJs and hope that money is pulled in through the first time of asking.
Who can distrain?
HMRC are the only creditor that has the right to levy distress and have goods removed from the business premises. The assets can then be sold at auction, using the proceeds to pay the debt first and any surplus is given back to the business. Distraint is no longer available to landlords who must follow a new procedure called CRAR (Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery).
Although there are strict regulation which HMRC must stick too, they do not need a court order to carry out a distraint.
The HMRC agent must always provide the debtor with a certificate showing who they are and who they represent. The agent cannot force entry but may enter the premises through an open window for example. Once in, they can use passive force, but they are not allowed to be violent or forceful.
The process for HMRC to levy a distraint
There is a strict process which HMRC must adhere too when a notice of enforcement is being served. It is a seven-day process from the receipt of the notice.
- HMRC visit
- A HMRC field officer will visit the business address (or home if the company registration is there). There will be plenty of notice given and the company should have first received CCJs, so they will know HMRC intend to visit.
- Payment request
- They will then ask for payment. If the debt is not paid, or cannot be paid, the officer will make an inventory of the company’s assets, including stock. This will be on a Controlled Goods Agreement or a C204 form.
- Seizure of goods – Controlled Goods Agreement (CGA)
- Only items that belong to the company can be listed on a CGA, which is made by a bailiff. It is an inventory of items which can be take. The person owning the debt will be asked to sign the agreement, after which they have a further seven days to pay the debt before the items listed are collected and sold at auction. If the agreement is not signed, an enforcement officer can arrange for the immediate removal of the items listed.
- Check agreement
- If there is agreement that everything on the list belongs to the company and agreement to the terms of the distraint, the C204 paperwork needs signing. Usually, the assets on the inventory list can stay at the business premises and for use in day to day trading. There is to be no selling, moving to a different location or giving away of these assets.
- Payment deadline
- The debtor is given five days to arrange payment. It may be feasible to arrange a Time To Pay Arrangement. This is a government initiative which is designed to help companies repay their HMRC debts. However, the company must act quickly if they are to have any chance of renegotiating payment terms. It can be difficult to secure a new TTP if the company has previously had one which failed.
If there is a refusal to sign C204, there is a danger of having assets listed on the inventory seized immediately.
- Total payable
- The total amount payable will include the cost of the distraint and the officers time. The C204 form will have a list of the costs and a breakdown of the amount owed. So, on top of the total debt that is repayable, creditors will charge for the time taken to employ debt collectors. A small debt can soon spiral into something a lot more.
- Outcome
- If full payment is not received or a TTP is not agreed, the HMRC officer will return. Upon their return, they will seize control of assets that are in their inventory, and they will then be sold at public auction.
What possessions/assets can be included in the distraint notice and inventory form?
For limited companies, only items which belong to the company can be listed on the CGA. Sole traders, who don’t have the protection of limited liability can have personal items included on the list, as the owner is personally liable.
The inventory might include:
- Company vehicles such as bans/lorries/company cars.
- Heavy plant such as diggers, dumper trucks.
- Machinery such as lathes, upright heavy-duty drills.
- Office equipment such as printers/fax machines/computers.
- Company office furniture such as desks and filing cabinets.
- Company stock.
What if there is a disagreement with the amount that is claimed as owed?
If there is a dispute regarding the amount owing, it’s something to discuss with the creditors initially. In particular with the officer that calls on you. However, negotiation will not be possible once they have entered the business premises.
What are the options?
If an HMRC officer has called, or there has been a threat of distraint, then there are options, but only by acting quickly. If a notice of enforcement has been issued by HMRC it would generally suggest the business cannot be saved, then the best option may be to go into creditors voluntary liquidation (CVL). This is so the risk of wrongful trading and the director’s personal liability is lowered.
If there is a genuine possibility that the company could continue trading, but is unable to afford the debt straight away, there are formal repayment plans available. These could be through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) or administration. However, if you have a debt to HMRC it generally suggests that the company is on its last legs and you face the prospect of liquidation.
In summary
HMRC are a very powerful creditor and who carry more weight than a standard creditor. Tax is a lawful requirement, so HMRC will look to claim every bit of unpaid tax available. Distraint is a term used to describe the extra power that HMRC has over a typical creditor. However, they do have to go through the first procedure of trying to get the funds through a CCJ.
How we can help
If you’re worried about unpaid tax bills, or have received CCJs from HMRC, then the most important thing to do is to act fast. The faster you act, the greater chance you have of preventing a winding-up petition, or in some cases bailiff action. We offer advice and help, with free face-to-face consultations nationwide, helping your company move forward regardless of the situation.
Case Studies
Derwent Castings Limited
Kelly Burton • Metals • Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)
Unsecured creditors owed money by a Derbyshire manufacturing company which went into liquidation are to receive a higher-than-expected dividend of 60p in the pound.
A total in excess of £128,000 is due to be distributed to unsecured creditors of Whatstandwell-based Derwent Castings Limited, whose claims totalled over £192,000.
The company, whose roots date back to the 1940s, had traded profitably for a number of years but in late 2013 / early 2014 saw the cancellation of its largest sales contract which represented 70 per cent of its turnover.
Bosses at the company, which employed 16 staff including three directors, struggled to attract replacement business and had to drop prices. Further business was lost as a result of foreign competition.
Sheffield’s insolvency specialist Wilson Field was called in as liquidator and worked with the creditors’ committee of Derwent Castings Limited to secure the positive dividend.
Andy Wood, associate director and insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field said:
“Dividends for insolvent companies are generally low, or nothing, for a variety of reasons – cost of staff redundancies, difficulty collecting outstanding invoices, selling assets in a forced sale situation, selling specialist assets which have limited appeal to purchasers, deteriorating or perishable assets, as well as other costs involved.
“However, thanks to a very positive relationship with the creditors committee, I am delighted to return a healthy dividend to the unsecured creditors in the region of 60p in the pound.
“The supply chain is often greatly affected by a liquidation and in this case we have been able to help creditors.”
Derwent Castings Limited was incorporated in August 2002 and specialised in iron casting from the five-acre Derwent Foundry site at Whatstandwell near Matlock.
However, the iron founding operation at Derwent Foundry was first introduced back in 1946 by Wragg & Hawksley which produced cast iron pipes for the water industry.
In 1950 the foundry was acquired by WH Davis & Sons Ltd to supply castings for their railway wagon building business. Following a management buy out in 1984, the company was renamed Derwent Foundry Ltd and following its closure in July 2002, was bought by its present owners and renamed Derwent Castings Ltd.
Amongst jobs carried out on site were moulding using loose pattern and modern air setting (boxless) sand systems; metals work using the latest in electric induction melting producing a wide range of grey, SG and alloy irons; an independent Namas approved test laboratory, finishing, pattern making and machining facilities.
Aristocrat Pet Supplies
Kelly Burton • Retail • Administration
The business and assets belonging to a Sheffield online pet supplies company are up for sale. Aristocrat Pet Supplies, a family owned and run business, milled its own feed and seed on-site in Sheffield and has been trading for over 25 years selling agricultural raw materials, livestock, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods.
Sheffield-based insolvency specialists Wilson Field were called into the firm after it experienced increasing pressure and competition online. Andy Wood and Lisa Hogg were appointed as joint administrators for the company on January 26.
Wilson Field is trading the business in the short term with a view to finding a potential buyer for the company based on Holbrook Green Industrial Estate near Sheffield.
Andy Wood, associate director and insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field said:
“The business has encountered increased competition in recent years, principally from discount stores which have reduced margins.
“It has been on the market for several months but has not attracted any significant interest so far. As administrators, Wilson Field is trading the business in the short term to maximise realisations on a reduced staff base of seven.”
Aristocrat, which employed 19 staff, offered a range of pet supplies including dog and cat treats, chews, small animal bedding, wild bird supplies, poultry and aquatic food.
M J Squire Limited
Kelly Burton • Construction & Engineering • Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)
A bespoke joiners and shop fitters in Sheffield, M J Squire Limited, had been in its trade for more than 30 years.
However, recently it has been forced to close due to the downturn in the construction and retail industry.
The company was located at Orgeave Close in Sheffield, after working for many household names over the years including House of Fraser, Levi’s, Austin Reed and Tommy Hilfiger.
Until 2014, it had been a profitable company but over the past couple of years, it had been unable to secure profitable contracts.
February 10th, 2016 saw the appointment of Wilson Field’s Andy Wood and Robert Dymond as liquidators. This development for the company came as a result of suffering cash flow problems.
Operations at M J Squire Limited have now ceased and regrettably, all nine roles within the company were made redundant.
Andy Wood, insolvency practitioner from Wilson Field, spoke about his work on this case.
“Declining sales at M J Squires significantly impacted cash flow and the business’ ability to meet its liabilities. In the face of tough market conditions, the director has taken the difficult decision not to continue trading. The business has closed and the assets are being sold.”
“It is very sad to see this well-known local business cease to trade after over 30 years. The downturn in the retail sector has hit this business hard.”
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