It is very common for the directors of small businesses to take their remuneration in the form of drawings from the Company rather than wages or salary, thereby saving National Insurance.
This is however an approach not without its risks. If the Company was to go into insolvency a Liquidator may ask that the director repay these sums. It is essential that the director gets it right as there can be little room for error.
When drawings are taken from a Company by a director it will create a debit in a Directors Loan Account. This creates a debt obligation from the director to the Company.
The debt is often extinguished when the director declares a dividend arising from the profits of the Company.
However, in the following circumstances the dividend may be found to be unlawfully declared –
It is often the first job of a Liquidator to check what monies a former director has taken from the Company to ascertain whether claims can be made against the former directors. Liquidators can and do request that former directors pay over even relatively small amounts of drawings allegedly made unlawfully.
If a challenge is received from a Liquidator in relation to payments they allege to be unlawful dividends the following should be considered –
To further discuss any area of Insolvency Claims with an experienced lawyer please contact us or call us on 07460 005 769.
Please complete the form below