When considering the cost to close and liquidate a limited company, you first need to determine which liquidation process is appropriate for the company’s situation. To do this, you need to establish if the limited company is solvent or insolvent.

• If the company is solvent
  The closure process is known as a Members Voluntary Liquidation (MVL). Our costs for this process start at £1,995 + VAT & disbursements.
• If the company is insolvent
  The closure process is known as a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL). The cost to close and liquidate through this process, will vary depending on the company’s circumstances, such as the industry and nature of the business that is carried out, the level of its debt, the number of creditors, the number of employees, and the quantity and type of assets.

How much is an insolvent company Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)?

The fees for a liquidation (CVL) can vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the business.

• The industry and type of business the company carries out.
• The amount of debt the company has.
• The number of creditors the company owes to.
• The number of employees.
• The type and quantity of assets within the company.

How is a CVL paid for?

The cost to close and liquidate via the CVL process is paid for by the company and is usually covered by the sale of assets within the company. If there are no assets to fund the liquidation, directors will have to cover the costs personally. If the assets in the company can’t cover the costs involved, directors can pick up the shortfall themselves.

• The sale of company assets – If the sale value of your company’s assets is sufficient, the funds acquired may cover the IP’s costs.
• Director’s personal funding – This may include the sale of personal assets or the use of savings.

Advantages of a CVL

Closing a company through a CVL has many advantages, including but not limited to:

• Close the company and walk away

  Directors can propose the voluntary liquidation of an insolvent company and with 75% of the shareholders agreement, the company can enter into a CVL. The process will see the company formally wound up and the directors can walk away from the limited company.

• Continue to trade through a different company and purchase assets back

  It is possible to liquidate a company and continue to trade the business through a newly registered or existing company. This is commonly known as a pre-pack liquidation.

  These are some of the key differences when referring to a pre-pack liquidation which are agreed with the liquidator prior to a company entering CVL:

  • Some or all of the insolvent company’s assets can be purchased and transferred.
  • The business can continue uninterrupted.
  • Employees have the possibility of being TUPE’d
  Directors can purchase assets from the insolvent company through a CVL, whether for personal or company use.

  Find out more about pre-pack liquidation

• Unsecured debts are written off

  All unsecured debt is written off with the formal liquidation of the company. Allowing directors to move on without the burden of this debt.

• Hold position of director at other limited companies

  A director can continue to, or become the director of other companies, after a company they have been director of has gone into liquidation.

• Legal action stops

  Any current or future legal action taken against the company, such as County Court Judgements or Winding Up-Petitions, are stopped once the company enters CVL.

• Liquidators deal with creditors

  Director responsibilities will cease and the insolvency practitioner will handle all communication with creditors, such as phone calls, letters and bailiffs. Removing the burden of any action taken against the company.

• Take control, avoid court processes and compulsory liquidation

  Directors who choose to enter a CVL will have more control over the process and be able to appoint their own liquidator. By entering into a voluntary liquidation, the company avoids being wound-up by creditors and forcing the company into compulsory liquidation, with the Official Receiver taking control.

• Leases can be cancelled

  Terms on leases and hire purchase agreements will be terminated, stopping any further payments. Any arrears owed, will be written off as the company is liquidated.

• Reduce wrongful trading accusations

  Directors who decide to cease trading and enter into a CVL, are prioritising their creditors interest and will limit the risk of accusations of wrongful trading, when the liquidator investigates the company’s insolvency.

  Find out more about wrongful trading

• Employee, director entitlements and redundancy pay

  If eligible, employees and directors can apply for statutory entitlements, such as:

  • Redundancy pay
  • Holiday pay
  • Outstanding payments such as:
    • Unpaid wages
    • Overtime and bonus/commission
    • Statutory notice pay
• Directors fulfil legal obligations

  Directors have a legal obligation to be aware of their company’s financial position at all times and to hold no creditor preferences. By entering into a CVL, this shows directors are prioritising creditors.

• Take control of the liquidation and choose a liquidator

  A Creditors Voluntary Liquidation is an irreversible process, which cannot be undone or objected to by creditors. By choosing to voluntarily liquidate it enables directors to take more control and choose their own liquidator.

What if my company cannot afford the liquidation?

The costs and fees for completing a liquidation are covered by the company. Usually, these are covered by any remaining funds in the company, or by the sale of assets through the liquidation procedure. However, if the company cannot afford liquidation, a director can look to enter the process by the use of personal funds.

How much is a solvent company Members Voluntary Liquidation (MVL)?

Our costing for an MVL has a pricing structure based on a three-tiered system designed to suit the individual requirements of each company. The cost to close and liquidate using the MVL process, is split into two different sections; the liquidators’ fees, which involve all the work and duties carried out by our insolvency practitioner, and the expenses, which are a mandatory part of the MVL process.

• £1,995 + VAT & expenses
• £3,995 + VAT & expenses
• Bespoke MVL + VAT & expenses

How is an MVL paid for?

The costs involved in processing an MVL are usually drawn directly from the company assets held in the liquidation i.e., cash at bank, and are approved by the shareholders. The balance is then distributed in accordance with the company’s shareholding. As such, we do not usually require payment upfront for an MVL. 

Advantages of an MVL

The process includes many benefits to both directors, shareholders, and creditors.

• Tax advantages

  An MVL can avoid the imposition of income tax, which would otherwise arise if a company applied for dissolution, where the total assets exceed £25,000.

  • Capital gains
    The distributions to shareholders from a Members Voluntary Liquidation, enables capital gains tax at the rate of 20%.
  • Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR)
    In many cases, shareholders benefiting from distributions out of the MVL process will be able claim a further discounted rate of Capital Gains Tax through BADR, which is currently set at 10%.

  Find out more about Business Asset Disposal Relief BADR

  Tax Advice:Wilson Field does not give tax advice. As individuals and companies can have very different tax circumstances, we always recommend that you take advice from your accountant or tax specialist about Business Asset Disposal Relief before making any decisions about closing your company using the MVL process.
• Formal liquidation procedure

  An MVL is a formal liquidation which must be carried out by a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP). An IP will ensure that all legal procedures are properly followed, ensuring peace of mind for directors and shareholders.

• Company is formally closed and wound-up

  Directors can have peace of mind that the company has gone through a formal liquidation procedure, with the company wound-up and closed.

• Creditors fully paid out

  As the company is solvent, an MVL should ensure that all creditors related to the company are paid out in full.

• Asset distribution

  An MVL ensures a structured process for the distribution of assets meaning a smooth transitions of assets to shareholders, which will help avoid disputes and disagreements.

• Quick cash release

  Subject to shareholders signing their indemnity, at Wilson Field, we don’t have to wait for HMRC to grant us clearance to release the funds from the MVL process.

• Fast distribution

  We will aim to distribute funds to you within 7 days of receipt of your cash from the company’s bank.

How much does a voluntary strike-off cost?

A company director can choose to strike off a company by filling in a DS01 form for £10. Doing so removes it from the register at Companies House. A company must be solvent for the directors to strike it off and the procedure should not be used for an insolvent liquidation.

How we can help

The above procedures must be carried out by a licensed insolvency practitioner. Our licensed insolvency practitioners are qualified to carry out the above procedures. Our experienced initial advisors can discuss your company and its situation, whether your company is solvent or insolvent, and assess the options available.

1. Speak with our initial advisers via phone or online chat. If suitable, we will arrange a free consultation with one of our consultants to discuss your situation in depth.
2. After an initial assessment, we will advise if the liquidation of your company is the most appropriate route forward, or if there are other avenues to explore.
3. We will confirm the necessary steps to place the company into liquidation and would be engaged to carry out those steps on the director’s behalf.

In summary

The cost to close and liquidate a limited company can depend on several variables and circumstances. Whether the company is solvent or insolvent significantly impacts the route forward and associated costs.

• The cost to close and liquidate a limited company via a Creditors Voluntary Liquidation can vary. It will depend on the industry and nature of the business, its level of debt, the number of creditors and employees, as well as the type and quantity of assets.
• We have a three-tiered pricing structure for closing a solvent company through a Members Voluntary Liquidation. Our cost for an MVL starts at £1,995 + VAT and expenses.

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