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Tax, HMRC and VAT Help, Advice, and Support for Company Directors

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What help is there for companies with HMRC tax debt?

There is help for companies in arrears with HMRC for falling behind on their tax payments. The main source of support is a Time to Pay (TTP) arrangement which can be negotiated with HMRC by a company with tax debts. As the name suggests, you will be given additional time to repay the tax you owe and bring your account up to date.

Expert help when dealing with HMRC arrears

His Majesty's Revenue & Customs – better known as HMRC is the most common business creditor and for many company directors, it can be a daunting prospect dealing with them.

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What is crucial to recognise is that if your company is late paying taxes or is unable to pay in full, it will alert HMRC that your company is potentially insolvent and this can be the start of intense scrutiny from the taxman. The key to dealing with VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax arrears is understanding the solutions that are available for your struggling business. To understand which option is best for your individual situation, you can talk confidentially and completely free of charge with one of our insolvency practitioners. It is always our priority to help you stay in business, so if anything can be done to satisfy HMRC, we will walk you through the solution.

One common solution is the Time To Pay arrangement which is an agreement with HMRC that allows companies a revised tax payment schedule over a fixed period - provided they are happy that you will stick to this arrangement and repay all the taxes in full in a period to be agreed. You will need to convince them that this can be done in the stated time period.  If your company needs a longer instalment plan, we can talk you through other recovery options that are more suited to your circumstances.

If it can be proven that your business is expected to weather its current economic storm, there is a good possibility they will grant you extra time to make tax payments. As a guide, HMRC will generally set a 6-12 month deadline for you to pay back the taxes you owe but in some cases it can be longer.

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It’s important to remember that HM Revenue & Customs will make every effort to get the money that is due to them and this can go as far as sending Enforcement Officers to take business assets – so the worst thing you can do is put your head in the sand. We have vast experience in helping businesses who can’t afford to pay their taxes and in smoothing out disputes with HMRC where relations have taken a turn for the worse.

For more information you can arrange your free consultation with a Real Business Rescue specialist at one of our UK offices or you can call our specific director hotline for immediate and confidential advice from a licensed insolvency practitioner.

When your company is having trouble paying tax, PAYE, VAT, or NIC there is a high probability that the business is already insolvent. According to UK Insolvency Law, company directors operating an insolvent business must act in the best interests of creditors (including HMRC) and cease trading immediately, especially if there is no realistic prospect of recovering from the financial difficulties being experienced. 

Failure to address tax problems will signal to HMRC that your business is indeed insolvent, prompting them to take action to recover the debt and possibly issue a winding up petition against your company, which would ultimately result in the liquidation and dissolution of the business. If you owe HMRC but are afraid you won't be able to come up with the money to pay on time or in full, consider the following solutions:

Dealing with HMRC debts?

If you are experiencing pressure from HMRC for unpaid tax liabilities, you are far from alone. In fact HMRC is the most common creditor of businesses in the UK. For expert help and advice in tackling your tax debt, call our team.
The team are available now -  0800 644 6080

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Key Options for Dealing with Tax Arrears

1. Contact HMRC and Negotiate with Them
The first option is to contact HMRC's Business Payment Support Service (BPSS) - 0845 302 1435 - and ask them about setting up a 'Time to Pay' arrangement. However, this route is understandably intimidating for many directors. Keep in mind you'll need to have some information ready when you call, including:

  • Basic information about your business (i.e. - company name, registered address, telephone number).
  • Details about the tax arrears you're having problems paying.
  • You'll also need to have an explanation for why you you're unable to pay on time and in full, efforts you've taken to attempt to obtain the funds needed, how much you'll be able to pay towards the debt immediately (if any), and how long of an extension you need.

2. Have Us Negotiate Time to Pay On Your Behalf
If the idea of calling HMRC and being put on the”hot seat” doesn't sound appealing to you we could handle it for you. The benefit that we offer over doing it yourself is that we will work with you to do some financial forecasting so we'll be equipped with the information needed to propose more viable terms to HMRC. In addition, as licensed insolvency practitioners we have extensive experience in these matters and have a high rate of success in helping our clients avoid winding up and tax penalties. Email us or call us on 0808 253 5289 for free advice.

3. Utilise Asset Financing to Raise the Funds Needed
Have you tried using some of your assets (i.e. - equipment, inventory, company vehicles, property, unpaid invoices) as leverage to obtain secured financing? If your clients are other companies and they have a reliable history of paying you in full and on time you may be able to use invoice discounting or factoring to get an advance on those invoices and use the funds to pay HMRC.

Can’t pay CBILS or Bounce Back Loan?

Don't worry - there are thousands of other company directors in the same position. If you are struggling to keep up with your Covid loan repayments, speak to a member of the Real Business Rescue team to discuss your options. It's Free & Confidential.
The team are available now -  0800 644 6080

4. Propose a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)
A company voluntary arrangement (CVA) is an agreement between your company and its creditors (including HMRC) that allows for lower monthly payments and a centralised payment for all of your unsecured debts. If approved this would be an effective way to protect you company from legal action being taken by HMRC or any other creditor. You would need to instruct an insolvency practitioner to draft the CVA and propose it on your behalf. This solution is recommended if you have multiple creditors that you're trying to restructure.

5. Enter into Administration
If it seems as though HMRC may be moving to wind up your company soon it may be best to go ahead and enter into company administration, which is a formal insolvency procedure in which the directors of your company would appoint an insolvency practitioner to serve as the administrator of the business with the goal of facilitating a recovery.

6. Arrange a Pre-Packaged Administration Sale
If a recovery seems unlikely and you don't think the company will able to repay HMRC and all of its creditors, but you don't want to lose all of the company's assets and work in progress you may want to consider a pre-packaged administration sale, in which a third party or new company could arrange to purchase some or all of the assets.

Understanding Letters from HMRC

We appreciate that in times of financial distress, it can feel like you're being bombarded by creditors - particularly HMRC - and this documentation can sometimes be difficult to make sense of. That's why we've put a dedicated section together on common HMRC letters, explaining what they really mean and how your company should proceed. 

Need to speak to someone?

If your company is struggling with unmanageable debts, squeezed cash flow, or an uncertain future, you are far from alone. We speak to company directors just like you every single day, and we are here to give you the help and advice you need.
Call our team today on 0800 644 6080

Can You Be Held Personally Liable for the Debts Your Company Owes HMRC?

If you fail to cease trading and address your tax arrears while the company is insolvent it is possible that you could be held personally liable for some of the company's debts. Failure to pay National Insurance Contributions (NIC) could cause HMRC to send you a personal liability notice.

If the company eventually enters into liquidation (which is likely if you fail to pay your tax arrears) then allegations of wrongful trading may arise if its found that you continued to take new clients/job/orders and collect funds for products/services while the business was insolvent.

We have helped countless directors ease their concerns about tax arrears and arrange 'Time to Pay' plans with HMRC. For a free consultation send us an email or call us today.

What happens after the CVL?

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