{"id":12366,"date":"2023-07-06T06:03:32","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T06:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/?page_id=12366"},"modified":"2023-10-06T05:42:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T05:42:28","slug":"selling-a-business","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/rules\/business\/closing-down\/selling-a-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Responsibilities of Selling Your Business or Closing Down"},"content":{"rendered":"
SELF-EMPLOYED SOLE TRADER<\/strong>: Business owners must comply with the rights of their employees if they sell a business.<\/p>\n They are also responsible for finalising all company tax affairs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The people who work for you have employee rights<\/a> when you are selling your business (or closing it down).<\/p>\n All employers must inform their staff about:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Employers must avoid breaching the employment rights of workers<\/a> if their business changes ownership. Read more in business transfers, takeovers and TUPE.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is an online form to let HM Revenue and Customs know that you sold your business<\/a>. You can use the same form if you stop self-employment or have never been self-employed. It also covers National Insurance.<\/p>\n Authorised agents can complete the form on behalf of their client. That is providing the agent used HMRC 64-8 or the online authorisation service. Contact the HMRC National Insurance helpline<\/a> to cancel Class 2 NI contributions.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: HM Revenue and Customs do not accept dates earlier than 7 days before the end of self-employment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most businesses will have VAT registration. It may be possible to change VAT details<\/a> and the existing registration number to a new owner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sending a Self Assessment tax return is another responsibility of selling your business. You must send the return before the Self Assessment deadlines<\/a> to avoid a penalty. Make sure you insert the date that you ceased trading on the return.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In some cases, selling your business can realise a ‘capital gain<\/strong>‘. Typical examples include money made by selling company assets from your business.<\/p>\n This may mean that you need to pay Capital Gains Tax<\/a>. But, some business sellers can often reduce the amount by claiming ‘Business Asset Disposal Relief<\/a>‘. In some cases, there may also be some other reliefs available.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You will have different responsibilities when selling a business partnership. It will depend most on whether you sell only your share of the partnership or the entire partnership.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Always check the agreements in the business partnership. It often has conditions attached or some restrictions for the sale.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your staff will have workers’ rights<\/a> when you are selling your business partnership. The same also applies if you are closing it down.<\/p>\n You must inform your workforce about the sale and:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Employers must avoid breaching the employment rights of workers if their business changes ownership.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Often, you will stop self-employment after selling a partnership. You should contact HM Revenue and Customs<\/a> to cancel your Class 2 National Insurance contributions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Most business partnerships<\/a> will have VAT registration. You can usually change VAT information<\/a> and an existing registration number to a new owner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sending a personal Self Assessment tax return is another responsibility of selling your partnership. You must send the return before the Self Assessment deadline to avoid a penalty.<\/p>\n The legal responsibilities of selling an entire partnership include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In some cases, selling your business can realise a ‘capital gain<\/strong>‘. Typical examples include money made by selling company assets from your business.<\/p>\n This may mean that you need to pay Capital Gains Tax. But, some business sellers can often reduce the amount by claiming Entrepreneurs’ Relief<\/a>. In some cases, there may also be some other reliefs available.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Incorporation Relief means you are receiving shares for transferring a business to a limited company. The main reason for claiming Incorporation Relief is to delay paying Capital Gains Tax<\/a> (CGT). Thus, no tax would be due until you ‘dispose of’ or sell the shares.<\/p>\n To qualify for Incorporation Relief (often called business transfer relief), you must be trading as a sole trader<\/a> or a business partnership<\/a> and transfer the business, along with its assets (excluding cash), in return for ownership of shares in the company.<\/p>\n As a rule, claiming Incorporation Relief is an automatic process as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Even so, you need to work out the amount of Capital Gains Tax you need to pay, by deducting the gain after selling the business from the market value of the shares that you received.<\/p>\n An Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n The transfer of your business means you receive shares in the company that are valued at \u00a3150,000 – with a profit of \u00a360,000.<\/p>\n After selling the shares you would need to work out the gain. In this example, the Capital Gains Tax calculation would be \u00a390,000 (\u00a3150,000 – \u00a360,000).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is not uncommon to get shares and a sum of cash when transferring a business. If so, Incorporation Relief only applies to the proportion of the business that you exchanged for the shares. As a result, you would need to pay Capital Gains Tax on the cash portion.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: You may need to get help from a tax adviser<\/a> (or HM Revenue and Customs) if you decide not to use your Incorporation Relief.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The legal responsibilities of selling a limited company vary. It will depend most on whether:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In some cases, selling your business can realise a ‘capital gain<\/strong>‘. Typical examples include money made by selling company assets from your business.<\/p>\n This may mean that you need to pay Capital Gains Tax. But, some business sellers can often reduce the amount by claiming Business Asset Disposal Relief<\/a> (BADR). Often, there may be some other CGT reliefs for businesses<\/a> available.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n There are several steps to make before you resign as a director yourself. You should appoint new directors and inform ‘Companies House<\/strong>‘ about the changes.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n You may have secured finance for the company against your own personal property. An example would be a mortgage on a house to secure a business loan. In this case, you must inform the finance provider within 21 days of selling the company.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Most companies will have VAT registration. In most cases, you can change the registered information and number to the new owner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In some cases, the employees may get affected by the sale of your part in the business. An example is if the company sells its production business. It may affect the workforce in the factory.<\/p>\n In these situations you must inform the workers about the changes. This would include:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: During the change of a business ownership you must ensure the rights of employees do not get breached.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nIf You Employ Staff<\/h2>\n
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\nInforming HM Revenue and Customs<\/h2>\n
\nVAT Registration<\/h2>\n
\nSelf-assessment Tax Returns<\/h2>\n
\nCapital Gains Tax<\/h2>\n
\nResponsibilities of Selling a Business Partnership<\/h2>\n
\nIf You Employ Staff<\/h3>\n
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\nIf You are Ending Self-employment<\/h5>\n
VAT Registration<\/h5>\n
\nSelf Assessment Tax Returns<\/h2>\n
Selling Your Share in a Partnership<\/h5>\n
Selling a Whole Partnership<\/h5>\n
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\nCapital Gains Tax<\/h3>\n
\nClaiming Business Transfer Relief<\/h2>\n
\nReceiving Cash with Company Shares<\/h5>\n
Responsibilities of Selling Your Limited Company<\/h5>\n
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\nSelling the Entire Shareholding<\/h3>\n
Capital Gains Tax<\/h5>\n
Appointing New Directors or Company Secretaries<\/h5>\n
Charges against the Company<\/h5>\n
VAT Registration<\/h5>\n
\nWhen a Company Sells Part of a Business<\/h3>\n
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