{"id":223295,"date":"2023-05-21T02:55:40","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T13:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/?p=223295"},"modified":"2024-10-11T17:44:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T04:44:48","slug":"what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Bankruptcy Work for Small Businesses?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Financial difficulties can sometimes lead to insolvency or even bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows people and businesses to deal with their debts when they cannot repay them. Although the bankruptcy process is daunting, understanding the process can help you make informed decisions about the financial future of your small business. This article will act as a guide and outline the steps involved in bankruptcy in New Zealand, particularly in relation to small businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Bankruptcy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bankruptcy is a legal status declared when a person or a business operating as a sole trader cannot pay their debts as they are due. The process is overseen by the <em>Insolvency Act 2006<\/em> in New Zealand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bankruptcy only applies to individuals, meaning companies cannot be made bankrupt. Instead, companies that cannot pay their debts may face liquidation. For small businesses, bankruptcy may be relevant where the owner is personally liable for the business&#8217; debts. This can happen in the case of sole traders or partnerships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Consequences of Bankruptcy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bankruptcy offers relief from unmanageable debt. However, it comes with major consequences for small business owners, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Loss of Assets:<\/strong> Personal and business assets may be sold to repay creditors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Credit Rating Impact:<\/strong> Bankruptcy negatively impacts your credit rating, making it hard to obtain loans or credit in the future.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Restrictions on Business Activity:<\/strong> Bankrupt people are restricted from managing a business or serving as a company director without permission from the court.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Public Record:<\/strong> Bankruptcy is recorded on the public insolvency<strong> <\/strong>register, which can affect your personal and professional reputation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some key steps for managing bankruptcy are outlined below.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 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Insolvency is when a business or person cannot pay their debts when they are due. Alternatively, it occurs when their liabilities exceed their assets. Some signs of insolvency may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>consistent cash flow issues;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>unpaid debts;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>failure to meet loan repayments or rent payments; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ongoing legal issues from creditors seeking payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to seek financial advice at this stage to explore alternatives to bankruptcy. For example, you may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>negotiate payment plans with creditors;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>entering a No Asset Procedure (NAP); or\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>enter a Summary Instalment Order (SIO).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An NAP is available to those with no realisable assets and debts under $50,000. It provides a way to clear debts without the long-term consequences of bankruptcy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, an SIO is a formal arrangement where you make regular payments to repay your debts over time. As such, you can avoid bankruptcy while still addressing your financial obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/02\/21064805\/online-business-nz.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">Guide to Starting an Online Business in New Zealand<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>This guide will help you learn how to launch your new online business.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.com.au\/online-business-nz-guide.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: File for Bankruptcy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bankruptcy can be initiated in two ways in New Zealand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Debtor\u2019s Application:<\/strong> You can <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/how-to-make-a-bankruptcy-application\/\">voluntarily apply for bankruptcy<\/a> if you cannot repay your debts. This process is overseen by the New Zealand Insolvency and Trustee Service (ITS), part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creditor\u2019s Application:<\/strong> If you owe more than $1,000 and cannot repay the debt, creditors can apply to declare you bankrupt through the High Court.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Appointment of an Official Assignee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-is-the-official-assignee-in-new-zealand\/\">Official Assignee<\/a> becomes responsible for managing the bankrupt individual\u2019s financial affairs once a bankruptcy order is made. This government official distributes the bankrupt person\u2019s assets to repay their debts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Official Assignee\u2019s role includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>investigating the bankrupt person\u2019s assets, income, and liabilities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>selling assets to repay creditors; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reporting to creditors on the progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For you, as a small business owner, this may mean the sale of personal assets to repay debts, such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>property;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>vehicles; or\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>business equipment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Changes to Business Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/sole-trader-declare-bankruptcy\/\">Once you are declared bankrupt<\/a>, there are significant implications for your business operations. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sole Traders:<\/strong> If you are a sole trader, your business will usually be forced to cease operations. Additionally, the Official Assignee will sell the business\u2019 assets to repay creditors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Partnerships:<\/strong> If your business is a partnership, one partner&#8217;s bankruptcy may force the partnership&#8217;s dissolution unless a new agreement can be reached.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited Liability Companies:<\/strong> if you own a small business operating as a limited liability company, your personal bankruptcy does not necessarily mean the company will cease to exist. However, if you also personally guarantee the business&#8217; debts, bankruptcy may result in the company&#8217;s liquidation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5: Impact on Income and Assets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The bankruptcy period typically lasts three years. You may be required to contribute from your income to repay creditors during this time. Generally, the Official Assignee will assess whether your income exceeds reasonable living expenses and set a payment amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Official Assignee will also sell your non-essential assets. Certain assets are protected from this, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>personal items of sentimental value;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tools of trade needed for employment; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>household goods required for daily living.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 6: Discharge from Bankruptcy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You will usually be automatically discharged at the end of the bankruptcy period. When this happens, you are released from most of their debts, except for certain obligations such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>court fines;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>child support payments; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>debts obtained through fraud.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once discharged, you are free to start fresh. You can also resume business activities without the restrictions imposed during bankruptcy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bankruptcy only applies to individuals, meaning companies cannot be made bankrupt. Instead, companies that cannot pay their debts may face liquidation. If you own a small business, bankruptcy may be relevant where you are personally liable for the business&#8217; debts. Additionally, some key steps in the bankruptcy process include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>assessing insolvency;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>filing for bankruptcy;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>having an Official Assignee appointed;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>changing business operations;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dealing with the impact on income and assets; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>being discharged from bankruptcy.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need assistance understanding the impact of bankruptcy on small businesses, our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/dispute-lawyers-lp\/\">disputes and litigation lawyers<\/a> can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on <a href=\"tel:+64800005570\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0800 005 570<\/a> or visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/membership\/\">membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1684590772968\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is bankruptcy?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Bankruptcy occurs when your business cannot pay its debts or its liabilities are more than its assets. If you cannot repay your debts, you can file a bankruptcy application with the Companies Office.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1684590782644\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I need to pay my employees after declaring bankruptcy?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">After paying secured creditors, you should pay your employees if funds are available. Often employees are preferential, meaning they will be paid before other unsecured creditors.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"ed19fd34f0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223295\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"How Does Bankruptcy Work for Small Businesses?\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Financial difficulties can sometimes lead to insolvency or even bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows people and businesses to deal with their debts when they cannot repay them. Although the bankruptcy process is daunting, understanding the process can help you make informed decisions about the financial future of your small business. This article<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;How Does Bankruptcy Work for Small Businesses?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13267,"featured_media":201815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"219895,208291,220364,207871,218490,211818","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[54,331,335,1899],"class_list":["post-223295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disputes-and-litigation","tag-medium-business","tag-insolvency","tag-bankruptcy","tag-bankrupt"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is 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traders, partnerships and small businesses in New Zealand.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#faq-question-1684590772968"},{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#faq-question-1684590782644"}],"inLanguage":"en-NZ","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-NZ","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/11151511\/rupixen-com-Q59HmzK38eQ-unsplash.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/11151511\/rupixen-com-Q59HmzK38eQ-unsplash.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333,"caption":"How Does Bankruptcy Work for Small Businesses?"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Disputes and Litigation Articles","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/category\/disputes-and-litigation\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"How Does Bankruptcy Work for Small Businesses?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/","name":"LegalVision New Zealand","description":"LegalVision is a commercial law firm in NZ with a commitment to 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Zealand"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision","https:\/\/x.com\/LegalVision_law","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/legalvision-group"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/9c6fb29bc5cc2f7f8385fb0915dfcba1","name":"Emily Young","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-NZ","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","caption":"Emily Young"},"description":"Emily is a Legal Content Writer at LegalVision, where she is able to combine her interests of writing and the law. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Bond University in 2018.","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/author\/emilyyoung\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#faq-question-1684590772968","name":"What is bankruptcy?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Bankruptcy occurs when your business cannot pay its debts or its liabilities are more than its assets. If you cannot repay your debts, you can file a bankruptcy application with the Companies Office.","inLanguage":"en-NZ"},"inLanguage":"en-NZ"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/disputes-and-litigation\/what-happens-when-my-nz-business-becomes-bankrupt\/#faq-question-1684590782644","name":"Do I need to pay my employees after declaring bankruptcy?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"After paying secured creditors, you should pay your employees if funds are available. Often employees are preferential, meaning they will be paid before other unsecured creditors.","inLanguage":"en-NZ"},"inLanguage":"en-NZ"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13267"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223295"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":227838,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223295\/revisions\/227838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/201815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}