UK Insolvency Service

Appeals Panel Upholds Withdrawal of Patricia Marsh Licence

The Appeals Panel of the Insolvency Service affirmed the Regulation and Conduct Committee's decision to withdraw Patricia Marsh's insolvency practitioner licence, but suspended the effect of the withdrawal until 30 June 2026 on a non-extendable basis. The suspension is conditional, requiring Ms Marsh to take no new appointments, submit monthly progress reports to her IPA, pay licensing fees within 28 days, and use best endeavours to secure a joint officeholder for her open cases.

Hasib Howlader London Regulatory Penalty £6,000

On 11 December 2025 the Insolvency Service made a Regulatory Penalty of £6,000 against Mr Hasib Howlader of London for failure to comply with SIP principles, the Insolvency Act and associated rules. The breach concerned failure to promptly deal with pension obligations across nine cases. The penalty applies to England, Scotland and Wales.

Speciality Steel UK Sale Advances with Preferred Bidder

The Official Receiver has confirmed a period of exclusivity with a preferred bidder for Speciality Steel UK Limited, covering sites at Rotherham and Stocksbridge. The company was wound up in August 2025 and has been under Official Receiver administration. The exclusivity period is expected to last approximately five weeks during which the preferred bidder will progress their bid toward completing the sale at the earliest opportunity.

Individual Insolvencies March 2026 Official Statistics Release

The Insolvency Service announces the release of accredited official statistics on individual insolvencies for March 2026, scheduled for 17 April 2026 at 9:30am. The statistics cover monthly data on bankruptcies, debt relief orders, and individual voluntary arrangements in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, plus quarterly figures for Scotland. England and Wales data includes Breathing Space scheme statistics.

Fire Alarm Boss Banned for £300K Tax Evasion

The Insolvency Service has disqualified Alex Shorthose as a company director for six years until April 2032 following investigations into abusive phoenixism. Shorthose operated two fire alarm installation companies (Siamo Fire and Security Limited and Alex Fire and Security Limited) while accumulating combined VAT and PAYE debts exceeding £300,000. He paid himself nearly £400,000 across both companies while paying HMRC only £5,368 in total. Both companies entered compulsory liquidation in 2024 following HMRC petitions.

Corporate Civil Enforcement Reforms Consultation

The UK Insolvency Service has launched a consultation on reforming the corporate civil enforcement regime, seeking views on 11 options broadly categorized into structural reforms, information gathering powers, and procedural changes. The reforms aim to modernize director disqualification processes, introduce tailored restrictions for directors, and shift defended cases from courts to a tribunal model. The consultation applies to England, Scotland and Wales and closes at 11:59pm on 17 June 2026.

Director Filing Requirements for HMRC, Companies House

The Insolvency Service updated guidance on director filing obligations with Companies House and HMRC. Directors of limited companies must file confirmation statements at least annually, submit annual accounts to Companies House, and complete Company Tax Returns with HMRC. The guidance also notes directors may appoint representatives such as accountants to handle filings.