Creditors’ or Members’ Voluntary Liquidation?

If you are considering closing down your limited company you need to be aware of how your financial situation affects which liquidation route will be available to you.

The right option for you will depend on your company’s financial health, is your company solvent or insolvent?

Keeli MacMillan

Content Marketing Executive

August 1, 2024

What’s the difference?

A Member’s Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is a liquidation option for solvent companies, it is a cost effective and tax-efficient way of closing down a financially stable limited company.

If your company cannot pay its debts and is in financial distress then a Creditor’s Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) would likely be the best option for liquidation.

What is an MVL?

An MVL is the official process of winding up a solvent limited company. There are various reasons why closing a solvent limited company is a good choice. You may wish to release the cash tied up within the company for a new project, you may wish to retire or return to employed work or be moving abroad.

If your company has been trading for at least 24 months, has at least £25k in net assets, and is able to pay all its debts and liabilities before and after liquidation then an MVL can be a fast and profitable way to close down the company. Once all creditors have been paid any remaining cash is released and distributed to you and any other company directors.

An MVL also offers tax benefits such as Business Asset Disposal which sees approved companies only paying a fixed 10% tax rate on all company assets.

If you are ready to discuss liquidating your solvent company then contact us today.

  • Over £25k in net assets
  • Trading for 24 months
  • More assets than liabilities

What is a CVL?

A CVL is a liquidation option available for insolvent companies in financial distress. If your company is insolvent, it will be unable to meet all its financial obligations and/or it will have more debts and liabilities than assets.

Owning an insolvent company can be a distressing time, the CVL process eliminates the stress of creditor pressure and helps to avoid certain legal proceedings after the liquidation process starts.

During a CVL process investigations will be carried out into the running of the company leading up to the liquidation process. All company assets will be converted into cash which will be fairly distributed among your creditors.

It can be tempting to avoid dealing with the problem of an insolvent company, however, in doing so you stand to make your situation worse and face statutory demands which can lead to you facing allegations of misconduct leading to disqualification.

Contact us today for advice.

  • More debts than assets
  • Cannot pay debts
  • Financial distress

What’s the difference between an MVL and a CVL?

MVL
CVL
Your company is financially stable, able to pay all financial obligations, has more assets than debts.
Your company is financially unstable, unable to pay its financial obligations, has more debts than assets.
Process carried out by licensed IP
Process carried out by licensed IP
Liquidated assets distributed fairly amongst directors and shareholders
Liquidated assets distributed fairly amongst creditors
Fast process
Longer process
Director/s choose and appoints IP
Creditors need to agree chosen IP
Offers substantial tax benefits
Offers substantial peace of mind

How can The Liquidation Centre help?

Understanding which liquidation option is available to you is important as liquidation affects not only you but your shareholders and creditors significantly.

Whether you require an MVL or CVL you are unable to enter into either process without the appointment of an Insolvency Practitioner to carry out the process.

If you are still unsure about your position then The Liquidation Centre can help. By speaking to one of our in-house liquidation experts you can get a clear idea of which liquidation option is best suited to your company and financial situation. We are here to make sure liquidations are kept simple from start to finish.