Insolvency technical update: August 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.

Join us on the mornings of 8 and 9 September for legislative updates and an economic outlook from the Bank of England. You’ll also hear findings from ICAS monitoring visits and explore 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.

Register today

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Guidance for the Accountancy Sector (AMLGAS)

Revised AMLGAS has been issued by the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) following approval by HM Treasury. CCAB has produced a one-page summary of the key changes in the new guidance. 

Firms should update that their policies, procedures and training to reflect the revised guidance and make staff aware of the changes.

Appendix F: Supplementary Anti Money Laundering Guidance for Insolvency Practitioners issued in 2022 remains the current appendix for insolvency practitioners. It should be read alongside the revised AMLGAS. Where the guidance varies, follow the revised AMLGAS. 

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.

Update on Companies House presenter requirements

Companies House has announced that the requirements for those filing statutory documents to either be identity verified or registered as an ACSP will not take effect before November 2027. At least six months’ notice will be given before implementation.

The use of AI and technology in practice

Read our new helpsheet on using artificial intelligence (AI), automation, data analytics, cloud-based systems and other technology in practice. The helpsheet, available in the ICAS General Practice Manual, provides guidance in areas such as:

• Ethical considerations.
• Governance.
• Confidentiality, data protection and information security.
• Quality control.
• Transparency.
• User training.

Legal updates

Cray & Ors, in the matter of Greenbank Technology Ltd [2026] EWHC 1466 (Ch) 
A High Court decision has confirmed the importance of completing a members’ voluntary liquidation (MVL) declaration of solvency correctly. If it’s defective, the company may be treated as entering a creditors’ voluntary liquidation, even when it’s plainly solvent and everyone involved intended the process to be an MVL.