Company insolvencies September 2026: what the figures show

There were 1,882 company insolvencies in England and Wales in September 2026. That is 4% fewer than in August and 5% fewer than in September 2025, according to the Insolvency Service’s monthly statistics published on 20 October 2026. The total hides a split: compulsory liquidations rose sharply while voluntary liquidations and administrations fell.

How many companies became insolvent in September 2026?

The Insolvency Service recorded 1,882 registered company insolvencies in England and Wales in September 2026. August 2026 had 1,953 and September 2025 had 1,973. Monthly numbers in the first nine months of 2026 were all below the average of the previous three years.

The figures for compulsory liquidations, creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs) and administrations are seasonally adjusted. The smaller categories, such as company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), are not.

Which types of insolvency rose and fell?

Compulsory liquidations rose and every other main type fell or held steady. This table sets out the Insolvency Service commentary figures.

Against August 2026, compulsory liquidations rose 6%, CVLs fell 1% and administrations fell 44%. The fall in administrations was the main reason the monthly total dropped.

CVLs made up about 75% of all cases. A CVL is started by the directors and shareholders of an insolvent company. A compulsory liquidation is ordered by the court, usually after a creditor petitions to wind the company up.

What does the 25% rise in compulsory liquidations mean?

A rise in compulsory liquidations means more companies are being wound up by court order rather than choosing to close. The commentary does not say which creditors brought the petitions. HMRC is often a petitioning creditor, but the September release gives no figure for HMRC petitions, so we cannot say how much of the rise it accounts for.

The rise fits with HMRC’s tougher stance on older debt. The National Audit Office reported in October 2026 that tax debt over a year old and not on a payment plan had reached £18.6 billion. See our summary of the NAO report on HMRC tax debt.

How likely is a company to become insolvent?

About one in 200 companies entered insolvency in the 12 months to September 2026. The rate was 49.9 per 10,000 active companies, down from 52.8 a year earlier. It remains well below the 2008 to 2009 peak of 113.1 per 10,000.

By type, the 12-month rate per 10,000 companies was 37.7 for CVLs, 7.8 for compulsory liquidations, 4.0 for administrations and 0.5 for CVAs.

Which industries were hit hardest?

Construction had the most insolvencies in the 12 months to September 2026. The six largest sectors were:

• construction: 3,873 cases (17%)
• wholesale and retail trade, including motor repair: 3,364 (15%)
• accommodation and food services: 3,208 (14%)
• administrative and support services: 2,202 (10%)
• professional, scientific and technical activities: 1,897 (8%)
• manufacturing: 1,827 (8%)

All of the larger sectors fell year on year. The falls ranged from 2% in construction to 10% in wholesale and retail.

What happened in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Insolvencies rose in both nations, unlike in England and Wales. Scotland recorded 117 company insolvencies in September 2026, 14% more than a year earlier. Northern Ireland recorded 45, up 61%, with compulsory liquidations making up 30 of them.

These figures are not seasonally adjusted and the numbers are small, so a single month can swing widely. The 12-month rate was 49.0 per 10,000 in Scotland and 42.6 in Northern Ireland.

What about personal insolvencies?

Personal insolvencies went the other way. The individual insolvency release showed 11,894 people entered insolvency in England and Wales in September 2026, 9% more than a year earlier. Individual voluntary arrangements rose 17% to 7,385. The release’s summary describes the total as slightly lower than August, but its own table shows a 2% rise, from 11,684.

What advisers should do

The figures point to more court-driven closures, so the advice is to act before a creditor does.

1. Review clients with arrears. Check VAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax balances. A Time to Pay arrangement agreed early is better than a winding-up petition.
2. Refresh cash flow forecasts. Our guide to cash flow forecasting shows how to spot a shortfall before it arrives.
3. Remind directors of their duties. When a company is insolvent or close to it, directors must take account of creditors’ interests. See directors’ responsibilities.
4. Refer early. Only a licensed insolvency practitioner can act in a CVL or administration. Use the GOV.UK find an insolvency practitioner search.
5. Check solvent closures separately. A solvent company closing through a members’ voluntary liquidation is not an insolvency. Read our note on MVLs before April 2027.

Frequently asked questions

How many company insolvencies were there in September 2026?

There were 1,882 in England and Wales, 117 in Scotland and 45 in Northern Ireland, according to the Insolvency Service release of 20 October 2026.

Are company insolvencies rising or falling in 2026?

Falling overall in England and Wales. September 2026 was 5% lower than September 2025, and every month in 2026 so far has been below the average of the previous three years.

What is the most common type of company insolvency?

Creditors’ voluntary liquidation. There were 1,420 CVLs in September 2026, about 75% of all company insolvencies in England and Wales.

What is the difference between a compulsory liquidation and a CVL?

A compulsory liquidation is ordered by the court, usually on a creditor’s petition. A CVL is started by the company’s own directors and shareholders when it cannot pay its debts.

When are the October 2026 insolvency figures published?

The Insolvency Service has scheduled its next monthly company insolvency release for 17 November 2026.