The shareholders of a solvent company can place it in liquidation by way of a members’ voluntary liquidation.  This can help distribute the company’s funds in a tax effective manner.

Commencement of a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation

To commence a members’ voluntary liquidation, the majority of a company’s directors must resolve that the company will be solvent (that is able to pay its debts in full) within 12 months after the commencement of the liquidation. This resolution is commonly referred to as a declaration of solvency.

Once a company’s directors have made the declaration of solvency, the company’s members may wind up the company.  This is done by way of a members’ voluntary liquidation by passing a special resolution at a meeting of members that the company be wound up in this manner. The company’s members must be given at least 21 days’ notice in writing of the meeting. For a special resolution to be passed at least 75% members entitled to vote and be present at the meeting must vote in favour of the resolution.

A special resolution can also be passed if all members sign a written resolution resolving that the company be wound up. If the is able to occur it avoids the necessity to convene and give notice of a meeting of members.

The winding up of the company will commence upon the making of the special resolution by members.

Role of the Liquidator

The role of the liquidator is to:

• Realise the company’s assets;
• Pay the company’s liabilities;
• Ensure the company’s tax lodgement and payment obligations are discharged;
• Make a distribution to the company’s shareholders of any surplus funds.

Possible Benefits of a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation

Winding up a solvent company through a members’ voluntary liquidation may have the following benefits:

• It avoids the directors taking the responsibility of attending to the finalisation of the company’s affairs which can be a legalistic and time consuming process;
• It can provide tax benefits to the company’s shareholders. For example distribution of a company’s paid up share capital and pre-CGT reserves may be distributed to members tax free;
• It is a more formal procedure to end a company’s affairs, particularly where they company is unable to be voluntarily deregistered.  In this regard ASIC has strict criteria as to when a company is able to be voluntarily deregistered.

Finalisation of a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation

A members’ voluntary liquidation will be finalised when the liquidator holds a final meeting of the company’s shareholders.  The meeting is convened after all amounts owed to creditors (if any) have been paid and any surplus funds have been distributed to shareholders.  The company is deregistered by the ASIC three months after the final meeting is held.

Information and Advice

We have conducted many members’ voluntary liquidations and can provide advice and assistance in regards to carrying out the process. We generally provide this service for a fixed fee except in the most complicated matters.

If you wish to obtain advice regarding members’ voluntary liquidations, or appoint any of the qualified staff members of Pearce & Heers as liquidator of a members’ voluntary liquidation please contact our Brisbane or Gold Coast office.