Tips for managing the dissolution and liquidation of companies
Patrick Gordinne Perez2024-12-25T07:16:45+00:00The process of dissolution and liquidation of commercial companies can occur due to different circumstances.
In this case, we advise you on how to manage the process correctly.
How to carry out a company dissolution and liquidation process
The dissolution and liquidation can be carried out for two reasons: by court order, following a report from the insolvency administrator, or on the initiative of the partners or shareholders.
We are going to focus on the second case, which is the one you can control and manage:
1. Amend the Statutes, if necessary, before initiating the dissolution process.
The first thing to check is whether the Articles of Association would justify any of the alleged grounds for dissolution.
If so, it is sufficient for the General Meeting of members or shareholders to approve the dissolution with the required quorum.
But what happens if there is no article in the Articles of Association that covers the situation?
In this case, the Articles of Association will first have to be amended to include this new situation.
To do so, a first General Meeting, either ordinary or extraordinary, will be necessary.
Subsequently, a new General Meeting can be called to give effect to the dissolution resolution.
It is essential that the calls are transparent, as well as informing partners and shareholders in order to minimise future challenges.
But we insist, as we have said many times before, that many SMEs and small companies do not call a meeting, do not send information to shareholders, but have already reached an agreement internally and sign the necessary document at the notary’s office before doing what they have to do.
2. Appoint a company dissolution and winding up officer
The second step, once the dissolution and liquidation have been agreed, is to appoint a manager or several managers to take charge of the process.
In Limited Liability Companies (S.L.) this process is usually delegated to the manager or administrator if he/she is trusted; in the case of a Public Limited Company (S.A.) it is possible that an ad hoc liquidation committee may be appointed.
This is the person who will be accountable to the authorities.
3. Execute public deed of dissolution
The dissolution and liquidation of companies must be done by means of a deed in the presence of a notary public that records the resolution of the general meeting of partners or shareholders.
Here the certification of the liquidation and the appointment of the liquidator will be recorded.
This step is essential because, without this official document, no steps can be taken before the Commercial Registry or other authorities.
4. Register the dissolution in the Commercial Register.
The dissolution must be registered with the Mercantile Register within 30 days of the signing of the deed in the presence of a notary.
It is essential to comply with this deadline because, otherwise, you will be subject to penalties.
It is therefore an essential step in order to continue with the rest of the process.

5. Take inventory
Once the liquidation is registered, all assets must be inventoried .
It is important to note that, for the duration of the process, the company will be listed as “in liquidation”.
In the same way that the assets are inventoried, the liabilities, i.e. all outstanding debts, both short and long term, will also have to be inventoried.
6. Orderly liquidation of assets
The orderly liquidation of assets is the sale of assets to satisfy all outstanding debts or commitments.
It is important to note that sometimes the creditor may be willing to make a partial write-off in exchange for liquidity.
Therefore, the liquidation part also involves the liquidators’ bargaining power with creditors and banks.
7. Carry out tax settlements
In the liquidation of the company, it is also necessary to make the tax settlements corresponding to the last business year.
This includes corporate income tax (IS) and VAT (Value Added Tax).
It should be noted that this obligation exists even if the tax payable is zero.
8. Share the liquidity among the partners
Dividing the liquid assets among the partners or shareholders is another step to be taken in the event that, after satisfying the debts, there are liquid assets.
However, it should be noted in such situations that there may be outstanding debts and this would entail subsidiary liabilities in the form of liquidation dues.
9. Cancel the company name
Subsequently, the company name has to be cancelled, once all assets have been liquidated.
This is the step that will definitively extinguish the company.
Although it cannot operate because it will lack a NIF, this does not mean that obligations cease, as we will continue to see.
This will be done at the Mercantile Registry and will have effects before the Social Security and the Tax Agency (form 036).
10. Retain documentation for the legal period
Finally, the documentation has to be kept for at least 4 years after the dissolution of the company.
Not least because there may be claims in the future from creditors or former partners.
And, remember, there will always be a liquidation manager.
In short
The processes of dissolution and liquidation of companies are almost always complex.
Therefore, having the service of Asesoría Orihuela Costa can make them a little simpler.
Get to know us and we will inform you of how to help you!