Understanding my company's liabilities












1















I am seeking to close a UK business I own but I am worried about being hit with a huge tax bill.



I have been provided a balance sheet which states the following:




  • TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES: £203,157

  • CREDITORS (amount falling due after more than one year) = £172,056

  • NET ASSETS £31,101


I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101 ? Also what exactly are "current liabilities" and is there is a formal process for settling this ? What about the tooling and machinery I own ? Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax on that or is that included in my assets ?



EDIT:
There is also a net loss of £7,228 stated on another page










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  • 3





    Who provided this balance sheet? If it's your own accountants can you ask them for a full breakdown of the figures?

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    2 hours ago













  • The accountant did also supply a profit / loss statement. I guess that's what I should have been focusing on.

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago













  • If you want to close it, then IMO the assets are actually the most important thing. You'll need to get the net money out somehow and you might end up paying personal taxes at that point.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago
















1















I am seeking to close a UK business I own but I am worried about being hit with a huge tax bill.



I have been provided a balance sheet which states the following:




  • TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES: £203,157

  • CREDITORS (amount falling due after more than one year) = £172,056

  • NET ASSETS £31,101


I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101 ? Also what exactly are "current liabilities" and is there is a formal process for settling this ? What about the tooling and machinery I own ? Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax on that or is that included in my assets ?



EDIT:
There is also a net loss of £7,228 stated on another page










share|improve this question









New contributor




Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 3





    Who provided this balance sheet? If it's your own accountants can you ask them for a full breakdown of the figures?

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    2 hours ago













  • The accountant did also supply a profit / loss statement. I guess that's what I should have been focusing on.

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago













  • If you want to close it, then IMO the assets are actually the most important thing. You'll need to get the net money out somehow and you might end up paying personal taxes at that point.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago














1












1








1








I am seeking to close a UK business I own but I am worried about being hit with a huge tax bill.



I have been provided a balance sheet which states the following:




  • TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES: £203,157

  • CREDITORS (amount falling due after more than one year) = £172,056

  • NET ASSETS £31,101


I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101 ? Also what exactly are "current liabilities" and is there is a formal process for settling this ? What about the tooling and machinery I own ? Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax on that or is that included in my assets ?



EDIT:
There is also a net loss of £7,228 stated on another page










share|improve this question









New contributor




Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












I am seeking to close a UK business I own but I am worried about being hit with a huge tax bill.



I have been provided a balance sheet which states the following:




  • TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES: £203,157

  • CREDITORS (amount falling due after more than one year) = £172,056

  • NET ASSETS £31,101


I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101 ? Also what exactly are "current liabilities" and is there is a formal process for settling this ? What about the tooling and machinery I own ? Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax on that or is that included in my assets ?



EDIT:
There is also a net loss of £7,228 stated on another page







taxes united-kingdom assets private-company






share|improve this question









New contributor




Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago







Paul Ryan













New contributor




Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 hours ago









Paul RyanPaul Ryan

83




83




New contributor




Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Paul Ryan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 3





    Who provided this balance sheet? If it's your own accountants can you ask them for a full breakdown of the figures?

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    2 hours ago













  • The accountant did also supply a profit / loss statement. I guess that's what I should have been focusing on.

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago













  • If you want to close it, then IMO the assets are actually the most important thing. You'll need to get the net money out somehow and you might end up paying personal taxes at that point.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago














  • 3





    Who provided this balance sheet? If it's your own accountants can you ask them for a full breakdown of the figures?

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    2 hours ago













  • The accountant did also supply a profit / loss statement. I guess that's what I should have been focusing on.

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago













  • If you want to close it, then IMO the assets are actually the most important thing. You'll need to get the net money out somehow and you might end up paying personal taxes at that point.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago








3




3





Who provided this balance sheet? If it's your own accountants can you ask them for a full breakdown of the figures?

– Ganesh Sittampalam
2 hours ago







Who provided this balance sheet? If it's your own accountants can you ask them for a full breakdown of the figures?

– Ganesh Sittampalam
2 hours ago















The accountant did also supply a profit / loss statement. I guess that's what I should have been focusing on.

– Paul Ryan
1 hour ago







The accountant did also supply a profit / loss statement. I guess that's what I should have been focusing on.

– Paul Ryan
1 hour ago















If you want to close it, then IMO the assets are actually the most important thing. You'll need to get the net money out somehow and you might end up paying personal taxes at that point.

– Ganesh Sittampalam
43 mins ago





If you want to close it, then IMO the assets are actually the most important thing. You'll need to get the net money out somehow and you might end up paying personal taxes at that point.

– Ganesh Sittampalam
43 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














Ask your accountant for a profit and loss statement for the current year. What you're showing us is is a balance sheet. You can't infer taxes from a balance sheet but you can from a profit and loss statement.






share|improve this answer
























  • There is a net loss of £7,228

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago











  • @PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

    – Koenig Lear
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago



















1














"I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101" - since when do you pay on assets? With some very few exceptions, taxes are paid on profits. Which you say nothing about.



"Also what exactly are 'current liabilities'" - they are liabilities at the moment the snapshot of the balance is taken. Stuff like unpaid invoices (which may not be due to be paid yet, you know), stuff like open credits or mortgages that are to be paid over time.



"What about the tooling and machinery I own ?" - if those are company assets, then their value in the books (which may not be market value) would have already been included as part of total assets.



"Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax " - again, you pay tax on profits, regardless where they come from, as a principle. If you sell a machine for more than it is worth (in the books, as asset) then this is profit.






share|improve this answer


























  • Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

    – Chris W. Rea
    32 mins ago













  • Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

    – TomTom
    28 mins ago











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2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes








2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









2














Ask your accountant for a profit and loss statement for the current year. What you're showing us is is a balance sheet. You can't infer taxes from a balance sheet but you can from a profit and loss statement.






share|improve this answer
























  • There is a net loss of £7,228

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago











  • @PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

    – Koenig Lear
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago
















2














Ask your accountant for a profit and loss statement for the current year. What you're showing us is is a balance sheet. You can't infer taxes from a balance sheet but you can from a profit and loss statement.






share|improve this answer
























  • There is a net loss of £7,228

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago











  • @PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

    – Koenig Lear
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago














2












2








2







Ask your accountant for a profit and loss statement for the current year. What you're showing us is is a balance sheet. You can't infer taxes from a balance sheet but you can from a profit and loss statement.






share|improve this answer













Ask your accountant for a profit and loss statement for the current year. What you're showing us is is a balance sheet. You can't infer taxes from a balance sheet but you can from a profit and loss statement.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 1 hour ago









Koenig LearKoenig Lear

865




865













  • There is a net loss of £7,228

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago











  • @PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

    – Koenig Lear
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago



















  • There is a net loss of £7,228

    – Paul Ryan
    1 hour ago











  • @PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

    – Koenig Lear
    1 hour ago








  • 1





    But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

    – Ganesh Sittampalam
    43 mins ago

















There is a net loss of £7,228

– Paul Ryan
1 hour ago





There is a net loss of £7,228

– Paul Ryan
1 hour ago













@PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

– Koenig Lear
1 hour ago







@PaulRyan It's unlikely you'll have to pay any corporate taxes this year. Corporate taxes are paid on profits for the year.

– Koenig Lear
1 hour ago






1




1





But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

– Ganesh Sittampalam
43 mins ago





But liquidating a company involves removing its net assets, which you might be liable to personal tax on.

– Ganesh Sittampalam
43 mins ago













1














"I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101" - since when do you pay on assets? With some very few exceptions, taxes are paid on profits. Which you say nothing about.



"Also what exactly are 'current liabilities'" - they are liabilities at the moment the snapshot of the balance is taken. Stuff like unpaid invoices (which may not be due to be paid yet, you know), stuff like open credits or mortgages that are to be paid over time.



"What about the tooling and machinery I own ?" - if those are company assets, then their value in the books (which may not be market value) would have already been included as part of total assets.



"Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax " - again, you pay tax on profits, regardless where they come from, as a principle. If you sell a machine for more than it is worth (in the books, as asset) then this is profit.






share|improve this answer


























  • Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

    – Chris W. Rea
    32 mins ago













  • Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

    – TomTom
    28 mins ago
















1














"I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101" - since when do you pay on assets? With some very few exceptions, taxes are paid on profits. Which you say nothing about.



"Also what exactly are 'current liabilities'" - they are liabilities at the moment the snapshot of the balance is taken. Stuff like unpaid invoices (which may not be due to be paid yet, you know), stuff like open credits or mortgages that are to be paid over time.



"What about the tooling and machinery I own ?" - if those are company assets, then their value in the books (which may not be market value) would have already been included as part of total assets.



"Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax " - again, you pay tax on profits, regardless where they come from, as a principle. If you sell a machine for more than it is worth (in the books, as asset) then this is profit.






share|improve this answer


























  • Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

    – Chris W. Rea
    32 mins ago













  • Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

    – TomTom
    28 mins ago














1












1








1







"I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101" - since when do you pay on assets? With some very few exceptions, taxes are paid on profits. Which you say nothing about.



"Also what exactly are 'current liabilities'" - they are liabilities at the moment the snapshot of the balance is taken. Stuff like unpaid invoices (which may not be due to be paid yet, you know), stuff like open credits or mortgages that are to be paid over time.



"What about the tooling and machinery I own ?" - if those are company assets, then their value in the books (which may not be market value) would have already been included as part of total assets.



"Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax " - again, you pay tax on profits, regardless where they come from, as a principle. If you sell a machine for more than it is worth (in the books, as asset) then this is profit.






share|improve this answer















"I'm thinking I will only pay tax on £31,101" - since when do you pay on assets? With some very few exceptions, taxes are paid on profits. Which you say nothing about.



"Also what exactly are 'current liabilities'" - they are liabilities at the moment the snapshot of the balance is taken. Stuff like unpaid invoices (which may not be due to be paid yet, you know), stuff like open credits or mortgages that are to be paid over time.



"What about the tooling and machinery I own ?" - if those are company assets, then their value in the books (which may not be market value) would have already been included as part of total assets.



"Do I get to sell that off and will there be any further tax " - again, you pay tax on profits, regardless where they come from, as a principle. If you sell a machine for more than it is worth (in the books, as asset) then this is profit.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 49 mins ago









Chris W. Rea

26.5k1586174




26.5k1586174










answered 1 hour ago









TomTomTomTom

2,60321215




2,60321215













  • Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

    – Chris W. Rea
    32 mins ago













  • Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

    – TomTom
    28 mins ago



















  • Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

    – Chris W. Rea
    32 mins ago













  • Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

    – TomTom
    28 mins ago

















Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

– Chris W. Rea
32 mins ago







Re: "since when do you pay [tax] on assets?" ... the answer is: during liquidation -- potentially. On company windup, a liquidation distribution would return surplus equity (if any remains after settling liabilities) to shareholders. Such a distribution can constitute a return of invested capital, as well as retained earnings. Distributing retained earnings to a shareholder would trigger a personal tax liability. So, in theory, "assets" held by a liquidating company could become profit/income to shareholders, from their personal tax perspective. Just not if it's all return of capital.

– Chris W. Rea
32 mins ago















Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

– TomTom
28 mins ago





Actually no. Potentially and only for retained earnings, awhich I actually explicitly mention (selling assets for a higher than the book price).

– TomTom
28 mins ago










Paul Ryan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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