Directors of an insolvent company are protected from being held personally liable for company debts (limited liability), except in the event of misconduct.
A defined hierarchy of creditors exists when a company enters insolvency, with secured creditors being at the top.
A transaction at undervalue is when business assets are sold lower than their true value or for a loss.
If you wish to sell any of the assets of your limited company then there are a number of factors to take into consideration, especially regarding how these are treated for tax purposes and the differing treatments of both tangible and intangible business assets.
Understanding the role, liabilities and implications of a shadow (sometimes called silent) director, particularly in a company insolvency procedure.
There are many reasons why you might want to dissolve your limited company. Perhaps you experienced early success, but the market has now shifted, or maybe your business is still successful but you are approaching retirement and there is no one available to take over from you.
A limited liability partnership (LLP) is a legal business structure. Professional firms such as solicitors and accountants often choose to set up as limited liability partnerships, but the structure can also be a beneficial option for other types of business.
An insolvency practitioner (IP) is licensed to act on behalf of companies and individuals when they are facing insolvency or acute financial distress.
As part of the process of winding up a limited company, all of its assets will be liquidated, that is sold to realise as much money as possible.
Your fiduciary duties as a director reflect a relationship of trust and loyalty between yourself, the company, its members, and stakeholders. The expectation is that you will act in good faith, and in the best interests of the company.
There are various ways for directors to take money out of their limited company. One of the most popular methods of drawing down funds is by issuing dividends to shareholders. Often taken in conjunction with a low basic salary paid through PAYE, dividends are one of the most cost-effective and tax-efficient ways of paying yourself as a company director.
The reluctance of some banks in offering business loans has resulted in more directors lending to their own company.
If you owe money to your creditors that you can’t repay, they can take legal action against you which could potentially lead to the closure of your business.
If you’re unable to pay your staff then it’s also likely that you’re struggling to pay bills from suppliers, HMRC and other creditors when they become due, and at that point, your business could be technically insolvent.