Insolvency regulations and standards
Statements of Insolvency Practice (SIPs) for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland
SIPs are issued to licensed insolvency practitioners with a view to maintaining standards by setting out required practice and harmonising practitioners’ approaches.
Insolvency Regulations and Guidance Notes
Access the current ICAEW Insolvency Regulations and Guidance, information on any recent amendments and previous versions within our regulations archive.
Insolvency Code of Ethics
This Code is intended to help Insolvency Practitioners meet the obligations expected of them by providing professional and ethical guidance.
Insolvency News
Statement of Insolvency Practice 3.1 consultation
- Regulations
- 17 Sep 2026
The Joint Insolvency Committee (JIC) is consulting on updates to SIP 3.1 for Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) – England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The proposed changes focus on due diligence, customer understanding, informed decision-making, support for vulnerable customers and record retention. The consultation gives those involved in the IVA process an opportunity to help shape future standards. Respond by 8 December 2026.
The Insolvency Service Annual Plan 2026/2027
- Article
- 16 Sep 2026
- Professional Standards Department
The Insolvency Service has published its Annual Plan for 2026/2027 marking the final year of transition out of its 2021-2026 strategy. Read what we have highlighted as policy and regulatory points of interest to the insolvency profession.
ICAEW guidance: Vulnerable individuals in insolvency
- Helpsheets and support
- 11 Sep 2026
- Professional Standards Department
The guidance aims to assist insolvency practitioners and their staff in identifying, recording and responding appropriately to indicators of vulnerability among debtors, directors, creditors, employees and any other individual practitioners deal with, and who may have an interest in or who are affected by an insolvency appointment.
The Insolvency Service - call for case study papers
- Article
- 27 Jul 2026
- Professional Standards Department
The Insolvency Service is inviting insolvency practitioners to submit case study papers highlighting how professional and ethical standards operate in practice, with selected contributors given the opportunity to present their insights at a Joint Insolvency Committee (JIC) strategy day. Deadline is 28 August 2026.
Helpsheets and guidance
SIP 11 Checklist: annual review of financial controls and safeguards
Use this checklist to support you in carrying out a SIP 11 review.
Financial controls for insolvency cases
It is essential that an Insolvency practice has robust controls over estate accounts and cashiering procedures, both to ensure that estate monies are safe, and also to enable you to prepare accurate statutory returns, and receipts and payments accounts.
Your insolvency compliance review
Guidance to support ICAEW-licensed insolvency practitioners and their staff in meeting the ICAEW requirement (under Insolvency Regulation 3.13) to complete an annual insolvency compliance review (ICR). Resources include, helpsheets, forms and checklists to help you plan and carry out your ICR.
Guidance on personal insolvency casework
- Restructuring and Insolvency Community
Resources to support insolvency practitioners in undertaking formal personal insolvency appointments under the Insolvency Act 1986 (and associated legislation), providing information about the types of personal insolvency that may assist individuals experiencing debt problems, and guidance on bankruptcy and individual voluntary arrangements.
Guidance on corporate insolvency casework
- Restructuring and Insolvency Community
The resources in this section support the work of ICAEW licensed insolvency practitioners and their staff who undertake formal corporate insolvency appointments under the Insolvency Act 1986 (and associated legislation). Guidance and checklists providing information on: liquidations (voluntary and compulsory), company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), administrations, moratoriums and administrative receiverships.
Creditors' guides to IP fees
- Restructuring and Insolvency Community
These guides to insolvency practitioner fees form part of Statement of Insolvency Practice 9 – Remuneration of insolvency office holders.
Insolvency guidance papers
- Professional Standards Department
Insolvency Guidance Papers (IGPs) are issued to insolvency practitioners to provide guidance on matters that may require consideration in the conduct of insolvency work or in an insolvency practitioner’s practice.
INSSight: The Insolvency Service’s internal case management system explained
The Insolvency Service has introduced a case management system (INSSight) to better integrate with insolvency practitioners’ internal and external systems, automate repetitive tasks and reduce manual data entry. Find out what it entails, including what templates to use.
ICAEW Restructuring and Insolvency Community
Log in to your community to access resources and events to support you with your CPD. Membership is open to everyone, including non-ICAEW members, and is free for ICAEW members, ICAEW licenced insolvency practitioners, ACA students, JIEB students and ICAEW Certificate in Insolvency students.
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Insolvency monitoring
Insolvency monitoring and annual return
We visit all our appointment-taking insolvency practitioners (IPs) as part of our monitoring process. For our larger firms that have consolidated their licensing with ICAEW or where we license several IPs in a firm, we will discuss the most efficient way to structure our visit. All our reviewers have had extensive experience of insolvency casework so are able to provide support and share experiences and best practice.
Insolvency Monitoring Results 2025
- PDF (106kb)
In 2025, we undertook 159 reviews with our accredited insolvency practitioners. Access our infographic to see the results and outcomes of those visits plus what help and support are available.
Quality Assurance monitoring: view from the firms
As a world-leading improvement regulator, we supervise and monitor over 12,000 ICAEW firms and insolvency practitioners (IPs), holding them, and all ICAEW members and students, to the high standards of competency and conduct expected by the profession. Find out what our firms thought of the monitoring review process from our latest survey.
Annual return to ICAEW
Get the most up-to-date information on the online annual return, links and FAQs.
Marketing your insolvency services
Marketing your restructuring and insolvency services
ICAEW and our Restructuring & Insolvency Community have developed a suite of materials to help you promote the value of ICAEW insolvency practitioners. The guide and videos can be shared with your clients, business partners and staff. The materials provide a view of the direction of the market and offer guidance on the seven stages of business recovery and the role of insolvency and restructuring specialists.
Exclusive
Insolvency practitioner logos
View guidelines on using ICAEW's licensed insolvency practitioner logos and download the logo.
Further support
Our regulatory role
ICAEW’s regulation and conduct roles are separated from ICAEW’s other activities through internal governance so that we can monitor, support and take steps to ensure change if standards are not met. These roles are carried out by the Professional Standards Department and overseen by the ICAEW Regulatory Board and oversight regulators including the Financial Reporting Council, Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision, the Insolvency Service and the Legal Services Board.
Insolvency licensing with ICAEW
As the largest insolvency licensing body in the UK, ICAEW supports both ICAEW Chartered Accountants and non-ICAEW members to qualify and become licensed insolvency practitioners (IPs). Choose ICAEW as your firm’s insolvency regulator and access expert regulatory support, professional development and practical resources for you and your firm.
ICAEW Certificate in Insolvency
The ICAEW Certificate in Insolvency is the most flexible learning programme for insolvency professionals in the UK. It’s equally beneficial for experienced and inexperienced professionals, as well as being suitable for legal, finance, and other professionals.
Future of insolvency
The insolvency landscape is changing, and its role is more essential than ever. This hub features new regulation, trends and career roles as well as advice for firms and the challenges ahead.