HMRC Preferential Creditor

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HMRC Preferential Creditor

The Government is pressing ahead with planned changes to favour HMRC in insolvencies, despite opposition from the insolvency industry trade body, R3. It is intended that after April 2020, HMRC will once again benefit from preferential creditor status – which will advance HMRC in front of other unsecured creditors for certain HMRC debts and could also have implications for secured lenders.

HMRC Preferential Creditor


This may be a relevant consideration to a company director now considering entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) procedure, particularly where HMRC is a big proportion of a CVA company’s debt. 

Directors should consider the effect of the planned HMRC status change, and the difference it will make to HMRC and non-preferential creditors. Will it be harder to get a CVA agreed by non-HMRC creditors because of a lower anticipated dividend after March 2020?

If you would like to discuss how this might affect your plans and timing of a CVA, you can contact us (0121 201 1720) for further information. Any discussion is without obligation and is completely confidential.