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Members' Voluntary Liquidation

A Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is an option for solvent companies wishing to wind down their activities. This solvent liquidation allows the company’s assets to be distributed in a tax-efficient manner by the liquidator and can help protect against future claims.

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What is Members Voluntary Liquidation?

A Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is an option for solvent companies wishing to wind down their activities. Unlike other types of liquidation, an MVL is not an option if your company is insolvent.

This means that your company must hold enough assets to be able to settle all liabilities and interest in full within 12 months.

This solvent liquidation allows the company’s assets to be distributed in a tax-efficient manner by the liquidator and can help protect against future claims.

An MVL often comes about if:

The company has fulfilled its purpose
Company directors wish to retire or no longer want to manage the firm
The business is solvent but not making profit
A merger is taking place
Directors and shareholders are no longer willing to work together
Directors and shareholders want to close the business and distribute money in a tax-efficient way.

Shareholders can potentially take advantage of entrepreneurs’ relief laws that could reduce the tax rate charged on any distribution by the liquidator down to 10%.

An MVL is a fairly straightforward process: the company winds down its business, creditor liabilities are settled and any remaining funds are distributed amongst the shareholders.

What happens during a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation?

The first step is for a Declaration of Solvency to be drawn up no later than five weeks prior to the company being placed into members voluntary liquidation.

The Declaration of Solvency must be sworn to by a majority of the directors with a solicitor present.

Evidence of solvency up until the date of the liquidation must be provided to HMRC.

This means the company must send copies of accounts and returns, final payment information, final VAT and PAYE copies.

Meetings of the company’s directors and shareholders will then be called to pass various resolutions.

These meetings will confirm the date of the winding up of the company and the Declaration of Solvency will be noted as signed. The name of the liquidator to be appointed will also be confirmed at these meetings.

The Declaration of Solvency will then be delivered to Companies House.

Within 14 days of the resolutions, they must be advertised in the London Gazette. The insolvency practitioner overseeing the process will do this for you.

This is so that any remaining creditor claims can be dealt with – even though it is unlikely any will remain.

As with a compulsory liquidation, an insolvency practitioner authorised by the insolvency service will act as the liquidator and help take charge to wind up the business.

Any money held at the company’s bank will be retrieved and any assets realised, and then – assuming all creditors have been paid – a distribution of shareholders’ funds will be made as swiftly as possible.

What is a Declaration of Solvency?

A Declaration of Solvency states that directors believe their business can pay back all its debts and interest within a year or less.

It must be sworn under an oath and in the presence of a solicitor.

It should list current company property, assets and liabilities and must be signed five weeks or less prior to the date of liquidation.

The declaration should be filed at Companies House at least 15 days after the date of liquidation.

If company debts are still outstanding by the end of the one-year period, directors must give evidence proving they had valid reasons for believing their company could pay its debts back.

If company directors cannot do this, they may face a fine, imprisonment or both.

How long does a Members Voluntary Liquidation process take?

Once formally appointed, Hudson Weir can assist the directors to place the company into liquidation within seven days (if all directors are in agreement) and will then distribute cash to shareholders within seven days of the receipt of cash from the bank.

Liquidation will usually be completed within 12 months. All responsibility is passed from the directors to the liquidators during this time.

Company property and assets will usually be distributed within six months.

Liquidators also have to reclaim VAT and obtain tax clearance from HMRC which can prolong things slightly, but aside from that the process generally runs smoothly.

We will sit next to you at the table and stand by you.

If you are thinking about a MVL, all you need to do is get in touch with Hudson Weir.

Call us on 020 7099 6086 or 020 7099 6626 (8 am to 9 pm)

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Hudson Weir are an established firm of Insolvency Practitioners who specialise in business recovery and corporate financial solutions.

Hudson Weir provides industry leading, nationwide services for its clients with the intention of easing financial pressures and providing recovery strategies for struggling businesses.

Hudson Weir Ltd (Company number 09477593) is a company registered in England and Wales.

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