Insolvency technical update: July 2026

Read our latest insolvency technical update – your round-up of the recent developments in insolvency.

ICAS Insolvency and Restructuring Conference 2026

This year’s ICAS Insolvency and Restructuring Conference will take place online over two half-days, helping insolvency practitioners and their teams stay ahead of legislative and regulatory change.

Across the mornings of 8 and 9 September, the conference will cover legislative updates, an economic outlook from the Bank of England, findings from ICAS monitoring visits, and sessions on pensions, members’ voluntary liquidations, and how AI is shaping the profession.

The conference is free for ICAS members, students and insolvency affiliates. Non-member colleagues can also attend free of charge through their firm’s ICAS-licensed IP.

New RP14/RP14A upload service

The Insolvency Service launched a new RP14/RP14A upload service on 15 July. The new service is not mandatory to use and the existing service will remain available.

Read the guidance on the new service and how to access it.

VAT Notice 700/56 (Insolvency)

HMRC has updated VAT Notice 700/56. Sections 1 (Overview), 2 (Types of insolvency) and 4 (Claims) have been removed and replaced with links to sections 1, 2 and 4 in HMRC's Insolvency practitioner’s handbook.

HMRC Insolvency Practitioner Bulletin

HMRC has published Insolvency Practitioner Bulletin 2 (2026), which clarifies HMRC’s approach in members’ voluntary liquidation cases.

Notice of move from administration to dissolution

Companies House has published a new version of Form AM23, notice of move from administration to dissolution, for England and Wales cases.

Bankruptcy information document

The Accountant in Bankruptcy has published a new bankruptcy information document, which replaces the previous bankruptcy debtors’ guide.

Review of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 and Insolvency (Scotland) (Company Voluntary Arrangements and Administration) Rules 2018  

The UK Government has issued a consultation seeking views on whether the current rules framework remains clear, proportionate and fit for modern practice. The consultation raises important questions about procedure, creditor engagement, remuneration, digital processes and the scope of future reform.

Read more about the consultation and submit your response by 6 October.

Insolvency (Scotland) (Receivership and Winding up) Rules 2018

The UK Government consultation noted above does not include a review of the Insolvency (Scotland) (Receivership and Winding up) Rules 2018, which are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

The results of the UK Government consultation may affect these rules to maintain consistency in style and format, where possible and appropriate, across UK insolvency rules. 

The Accountant in Bankruptcy has invited comments on:

• What works well.
• What works but may require some amendment or updating to work better.
• What doesn’t work and may require amendments.
• Whether there are any particular areas of concern or rules where you think amendments may be required.
• Whether there are any amendments which may be required to reflect economic and technical advances.

Please send your comments and views to David Menzies, Director of Practice.

Sheriff officer fee changes

Fees payable for services by sheriff officers and messengers-at-arms in Scotland will change on 25 September 2026 under the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) 2026.

The changes also introduce a new unit-based charging model. The initial unit rate will increase by 2% each year up to and including 2028-29. The Act of Sederunt also changes how time-based work by officers of court will be charged.

ICAS Code of Ethics

A revised ICAS Code of Ethics came into effect on 1 July 2026. 

The updated code introduces provisions on tax planning and related services, with new application material on professional behaviour. Read more about the updated Code of Ethics.

There are no changes to the Code of Ethics: Part 10 - Insolvency Practitioners. This already includes equivalent application wording on professional behaviour at paragraph 2105.1 A2. This wording is being introduced into the main code at paragraph 115.1 A2. We have produced additional guidance to the ICAS Code of Ethics: Fundamental ethics principle of professional behaviour – paragraph 115.1 A2 to accompany the revised ICAS Code of Ethics. It is also applicable to paragraph 2105.1 A2.

Legal updates

Drelle v Servis-Terminal LLC [2026] UKSC 29 The Supreme Court has held that an unrecognised and unregistrable foreign judgment for a debt or definite sum of money can constitute a “debt” for the purposes of section 267 of the Insolvency Act 1986. This means a creditor can present a bankruptcy petition in England and Wales on the strength of it without first recognising or registering the judgment here. Via Freshfields.