Written ByKeith Steven
Managing Director
Keith is the Managing Director of KSA Group Insolvency Practitioners which has been established for 25 years. The company has undertaken more CVA led rescues than any other firm. Read our case studies to see how.
A Notice of Enforcement is where His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has lost patience with the debtor (that’s your business) and is now seeking to recover the debt. It may have tried normal collection steps and these have failed or you may have offered a time to pay deal that has not worked. An HMRC officer is an Enforcement Agent for the purposes of the Act.
The officer is issued with a Writ of Control. They will then send the Notice of Enforcement to the debtor, on 7 clear days’ notice, excluding Sundays and bank holidays.
This notice period gives you (the debtor) an opportunity to contact HMRC and either pay in full or request/negotiate payment by instalments – better still contact KSA who can sort it out for you!!
If payment in full is not made within this 7 clear day period or an instalment arrangement agreed, the officer will attend the debtor’s premises after the expiry of the 7 clear day notice period to take control of goods (formally called seizure). If the debtor doesn’t sign a Controlled Goods Agreement (formerly Walking Possession) or make payment in full, the officer can make arrangements to remove goods and sell the goods over which he has taken control (seized).
If a proposal for payment by instalment is accepted at this visit, a Controlled Goods Agreement (CGA) will be prepared. It should include, amongst other matters, a list of the items over which control has been taken. The agreement must be signed (this replaces walking possession).
If the CGA is not adhered to, the HMRC officer will re-visit, on 2 days’ notice being given (again a breathing space to make payment or seek advice from KSA.) If payment is still not made then the goods noted in the CGA will be removed and sold.
The sale process takes place again with notice being given to the debtor. Throughout this process, set fees are charged. This applies to HMRC as well as an EA.
Note that the officer can only enter the premises by the normal mode of entry e.g door if half the property is residential. They now CANNOT climb in a window for example. If it is entirely commercial, they can force entry.
They are now permitted to force entry, to commercial, even on their first visit. They cannot force entry to dual purpose premises unless having part of the premises as residential is against the terms of the lease.
What happens after goods have been removed?, It is not too late to act even if the company has had been issued legal action! The business can be rescued. Phone us to ask how 08009700539
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