The Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in DG Resources Ltd v The Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, a decision that clarifies how winding‑up petitions must be served, an issue with implications for the 30,000 UK businesses using the Companies House default address for receiving official mail.
Background
DG Resources Ltd owed HMRC £1.104 million.
On 11 December 2024 HMRC presented DG Resources with a winding-up petition.
The petition came before Chief ICC Judge Briggs, who made several key findings:
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For what comes next tlt.com Disputes Outlook 2026 Insolvency TLT TLT Disputes Outlook 2026 Disputes Outlook 2026 Contents 2 Contents Live issues Expanded claims against directors of insolvent companies 3 Creditor challenges outside of formal insolvency 3 Increased regulation in the private rented sector 4 Emerging trends Insolvency proceedings as a method of debt recovery 5 Contested winding up and bankruptcy petitions 5 Mid-market restructuring plans 6 Spot the risks. Plan ahead. Resolve with confidence. Disputes aren’t always avoidable, but being prepared can make all the difference.
Introduction
In a recent decision, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) provided useful clarification on how TUPE operates in insolvency scenarios when a provisional liquidator is appointed. The judgment confirms that the TUPE exception for terminal insolvency proceedings can apply earlier than some employers and buyers may expect, with the result that employee transfer protections may be disapplied before a winding-up order is made.
TUPE and insolvency
The Insolvency Service has for many decades been the Government department responsible for the oversight of bankruptcies, compulsory insolvencies and, in more serious cases, the disqualification of individual directors.
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Winding-up proceedings are draconian and can lead to a company’s demise. For this reason the insolvency legislation stipulates that service of a winding up petition cannot take place by post, but instead must be personally delivered to a company’s registered office address.
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