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"HMRC (or another creditor) has threatened a winding up petition. What is a winding up petition and what can we do about it? What is a winding up order procedure?"
A winding up petition is by far the most serious action that can be taken against your company. Often the company has broken any trust the creditor had, payment deals have failed, cheques bounced and generally the directors have not kept their word to pay. Even though they have tried very hard, their customers have been slow to pay, or sales have been lower than planned. So the creditor reacts with the "nuclear" option. Of course, sometimes its not as simple as that; in some cases we have seen creditors issue malicious petitions as a means of trying to settle disputes. We can advise how to deal with this. In Scotland a threat of a winding up petition is even more dangerous to a company so read our page on the procedural differences.
If a creditor moves to wind the company up, they are usually serious in their intent to recover the money it is owed and or put the company out of business. Read our case studies of how we have managed to stop a winding up petition
Generally a winding up petition (WUP) costs say £300-£800 to issue PLUS £1,190 court deposit, and the filing fee. So it is a serious step to take. Click on the link for an example of what a winding up petition looks like.
Process of issuing a winding up petition: Typically a creditor asks a solicitor to "wind the debtor company up" to recover debts, or to stop the company making its debts worse. This can be any creditor with debts over £750.
An application is made to the high court (PETITION) to ask the court to wind the company up. The process is a very legal and technical one but the main thing to remember is you must act as directors when this threat or petition is received. YOU MUST ACT quickly. Or you could face possible personal liability for the debts.
The Court will grant a hearing date to "hear" the petition. If the company does not respond, or if no defence is mounted, then its usually a matter of the judge issuing a WINDING UP ORDER.
Important Notice! In the last few months HMRC are moving faster to issuing winding up petitions. So call us now on 0800 970 0539. If really urgent call Keith on 07974 086779 or email our advisors on
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What can I do if we receive a winding up petition? What should I do?
Once the company receives a petition there are now fewer options available;
You CANNOT put the company into creditors voluntary liquidation.
You CANNOT sell the company and you cannot sell the assets, as this sale may be reversed by the Court
Other than pay up there are only a few other options. There may still be time to propose a Company Voluntary Arrangement if you act FAST.... Other options include taking legal advice on defending the petition (if it is not an agreed debt for instance).
If the business IS VIABLE and has a good future then administration is a very powerful means to defend the company against the petition.
But now that the company faces winding up this requires an expensive court process. The court will need to consider the needs of all creditors and the petitioner, before granting an administration order.
An Administration Order, if granted by the court, will "stay" or stop the winding up petition and prevent a winding up order being made and any other legal action (except with leave of court).
The administrator may propose a Company Voluntary Arrangement to protect the business and allow a repayment of debts for up to 5 years. Or it may be sold to a new company or buyers (including you as directors). See the administration guide pages here.
If you decide to pay the debt, remember it will have increased because of the costs of the plaintiff (creditor). the petitioner will want those costs paid too.
You CANNOT put the company into creditors voluntary liquidation.
You CANNOT sell the company and you cannot sell the assets, as this sale may be reversed by the Court
Other than pay up there are only a few other options. There may still be time to propose a Company Voluntary Arrangement if you act FAST.... Other options include taking legal advice on defending the petition (if it is not an agreed debt for instance).
If the business IS VIABLE and has a good future then administration is a very powerful means to defend the company against the petition.
But now that the company faces winding up this requires an expensive court process. The court will need to consider the needs of all creditors and the petitioner, before granting an administration order.
An Administration Order, if granted by the court, will "stay" or stop the winding up petition and prevent a winding up order being made and any other legal action (except with leave of court).
The administrator may propose a Company Voluntary Arrangement to protect the business and allow a repayment of debts for up to 5 years. Or it may be sold to a new company or buyers (including you as directors). See the administration guide pages here.
If you decide to pay the debt, remember it will have increased because of the costs of the plaintiff (creditor). the petitioner will want those costs paid too.
What if we do not agree with the debt, or owe the debt claimed?
If the action is clearly unfair or an "abuse of court process" then you MUST take legal advice immediately. You may be able to legally prevent the petition from being advertised and indeed have it rescinded if it is considered an "abuse". We can provide advice on this and our legal partners can assist you rapidly to STOP the Gazette advert by seeking an injunction to restrain advertisement or by way of formal negotiation with the petitioner as appropriate. Otherwise, in due course the petition hearing will be advertised in the London Gazette and the hearing will be heard in the High Court of Justice (Companies Court).
If the petition has already been advertised then you could seek an adjournment of the hearing. However, in order to do this you will need sound reason(s). We have a good working relationship with expert lawyers who can analyse your situation and help you to obtain an adjournment where appropriate.
If the petition has already been advertised then you could seek an adjournment of the hearing. However, in order to do this you will need sound reason(s). We have a good working relationship with expert lawyers who can analyse your situation and help you to obtain an adjournment where appropriate.
If you have not instructed a solicitor we can refer you to a specialist insolvency lawyer at a London law firm, LEXLAW whom specialises in winding up petitions and insolvency matters (call on 0845 8622 529)
What is a Petition Advertisement?
The creditor must have advertised the 7 days petition before the High Court Hearing. It is advertised in the London Gazette or the Edinburgh Gazette for Scottish registered companies.
The creditor must allow 7 clear days after the serving of the petition on your registered office, before the petition can be advertised. It must generally be advertised 7 days before the petition hearing date. It is possible to stop the advert if you act fast. We can advise on taking an injunction out to stop advertisement.
The creditor must allow 7 clear days after the serving of the petition on your registered office, before the petition can be advertised. It must generally be advertised 7 days before the petition hearing date. It is possible to stop the advert if you act fast. We can advise on taking an injunction out to stop advertisement.
Case Study 2010, Winding Up Petition
If the petition has not been served at your place of business we suggest you check with your registered office quickly. We had an example in January 2010 of a company having its bank account frozen by Barclays Bank because HMRC had issued a petition against the company, which had removed from its business premises in May 2009. The petition had been served at the FORMER registered office address. But the director had forgotten to change the registered office address and had no awareness of the petition, until it was advertised in the London Gazette!
After the Petition Advertisement.
At this stage the bank will find out and they will generally FREEZE the company's bank account to prevent any "disposition" or sale of assets at undervalue or other illegal acts by the directors. This can paralyse the company and stop it trading. Actually it is not legally necessary for the bank to freeze the bank account, but most banks tend to do this.
- Freezing of Company Bank Accounts and Assets
Why do bank's freeze accounts? Well the technical answer is under section 127(1) of the Insolvency Act 1986, if a company is wound up, any sale of the company's property, any transfer of shares made after the commencement of the winding-up is void, unless otherwise ordered by the court. This means that it is very difficult for a company to continue to trade after a winding up petition is advertised. So banks assume that they have to freeze the accounts to stop assets being dispositioned. It is a safe step in their eyes. - Directors Investigation
Once a company has been ordered to be wound up by the court, the Official Receiver or the appointed liquidator must investigate the activities of the company directors to ensure that they have acted properly and according to their legal and "fiduciary" duties. If the liquidator believes that the directors are guilty of wrongful trading (see guide by clicking link) they may recommend that the directors are banned from all current and future directorships for a period of time up to 15 years; this is quite rare however. - Directors potential personal liability for company debts
If company directors are found guilty of continuing to allow a business to trade while they KNEW it was insolvent, they may become personally liable for the debts incurred by the company from the time they knew the business was insolvent.
Paying the debt and then obtaining a "validation order" is generally the only way to get a new account opened and the assets released by the bank. We can advise on this process which requires an application to court and obviously not insubstantial legal fees. If you need advice on a validation order contact us.
We have a very aggressive law firm ready to help your company.
If the petition is advertised and the company does not pay the debt, this will generally lead to the Official Receiver (OR) or a court appointed liquidator taking over to wind the company up. If the company has assets then an insolvency practitioner may be appointed by the OR.
How do I protect myself from personal liability if the company is wound up?
Read our guides for wrongful trading here. Director's disqualification here and compulsory liquidation here.
Make very sure that all board and management actions have been carefully noted and the assets of the business have not been disposed of. DO THIS FROM AN EARLY STAGE OF INSOLVENCY.
Make sure all management accounts, company books and records and bank statements are available and protected. Act sensibly and promptly. Don't leave it too late to get help, the faster you get help, the more KSA Group can do to help your company.
Get in touch
If the business is wound up by the Court, you MUST respond to any requests for information and records by the Official Receiver or an appointed liquidator. Failure to do so, is a criminal offence.
Stopping a Winding up petition
To find out more about how KSA Group can stop a petition, please read our case studies:
Winding up petition case study.
Latest high profile winding up petitions issued by HMRC;
Portsmouth Football Club
Truro Football Club - (HMRC now paid in full )
Gosport Ice Rink
Kettering Town
