Guidance
Phoenix companies and the role of the Insolvency Service
This guide explains the role of the insolvency service in investigating phoenixism
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Phoenixing, or phoenixism, are terms used to describe when the same business or directors trade successively through a series of companies which liquidate or dissolve leaving debts unpaid.
Abusive phoenixism is when individuals use companies repeatedly to evade debts or for fraudulent purposes.
Updates to this page
Published 7 October 2015
Last updated 16 April 2025
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Phoenix companies text replaced
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Improved information on re-using a company name
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First published.