HMRC launches new Insolvency Practitioner Handbook

HM Revenue and Customs has launched a new Insolvency Practitioners Handbook, bringing together its insolvency guidance into a single online resource.

The handbook, published on GOV.UK, is intended to replace a range of existing materials currently used by insolvency practitioners, including Insolvency VAT Notice 700/56 and HMRC’s insolvency practitioner bulletins. 

HMRC said the move was designed to improve clarity and accessibility.

Guidance has been reorganised into a structured format aimed at making it easier for practitioners to find relevant information and progress cases more efficiently. 

According to HMRC, improved navigation would reduce delays caused by navigating multiple documents.

While the initial version broadly mirrors the structure of VAT Notice 700/56, HMRC said each section would be reviewed and updated over time to ensure the guidance remains technically accurate and relevant.

During a transition period, VAT Notice 700/56 will remain available online. However, the new handbook should now be treated as the primary source of insolvency guidance for practitioners.