What are the proposed changes to rules on transfer of ownership?
The key takeaway
The Law Commission’s proposed changes are likely to improve consumers’ odds of owning goods bought online in the event of retailer insolvency, even before they have left the retailer’s possession.
The background
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2021, we look at the main developments in 2020 and expected issues in 2021 for D&O.
Key developments in 2020
For D&O insurers, 2020 was all about the hardening market – with rates doubling in some cases and limits contracting – and the underlying causes of that.
In this chapter of our Annual Insurance Review 2021, we look at the main developments in 2020 and expected issues in 2021 for restructuring and insolvency.
Key developments in 2020
The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came into force on 26 June 2020. The changes introduced by that Act were some of the most significant made to English insolvency law for decades.
Unless the Article 50 period is extended yet again, the UK is currently set to leave the EU on 31 October 2019 at 11pm GMT. However, if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, the impact of Brexit will, for most purposes, be postponed due to the transition period. This transition period is currently set to end on 31 December 2020. The Withdrawal Agreement provides that during transition, the UK would continue to be treated as if it were still an EU member for the purposes of a range of directly application EU legislation which is core to the smooth running of financial transactions.
An application to admit witness evidence outside the directions timetable should be treated like an application for relief from sanctions under CPR 3.9 according to the High Court in Wolf Rock (Cornwall) Ltd v Langhelle.
Facts
From 1 December 2020 new changes to the priority rules in insolvency will have a real impact on the recoveries achieved by secured creditors on the insolvency of a debtor. These new rules give HMRC priority above floating charge holders and ordinary unsecured creditors in relation to tax collected by an insolvent company from third parties, such as VAT, PAYE income tax and NICs.
On 11 September 2020, the Insolvency Act 1986 (HMRC Debts: Priority on Insolvency) Regulations 2020 were made. The Regulations will come into force on 1 December 2020.
The Regulations set out the debts due to HMRC that will have ‘secondary’ preferential status in insolvencies from 1 December 2020. They are debts in respect of PAYE income tax, employee NICs, construction industry scheme deductions and student loan repayments. VAT debts are to be treated in the same way, though are not covered by these Regulations.
