Selling your business: your responsibilities
Business partnership
Your responsibilities when selling a partnership depend on whether you’re selling:
- your share of the partnership
- the entire partnership
Check your business’ partnership agreement - it may have restrictions and conditions on the sale.
Staff
If you have anyone working for you, you must tell them about the sale, including:
- when and why you’re selling the partnership
- details about the redundancy terms or relocation packages you will offer, if required
Make sure you don’t breach employees’ rights when a business changes ownership.
If you’re stopping self-employment
If you’re stopping self-employment when you sell the partnership, call HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to cancel your Class 2 National Insurance contributions.
VAT registration
If the partnership is registered for VAT, you may be able to transfer the VAT registration number to the new owner.
Tax returns
If you’re selling your share in the partnership
You must fill out a personal Self Assessment tax return by the deadline.
If you’re selling the whole partnership
You must:
- make sure the ‘nominated partner’ sends a Partnership Tax Return by the deadline
- send your personal Self Assessment tax return by the deadline
Capital Gains Tax
You may have made a ‘capital gain’ when selling the partnership (for example the money you get from the sale, or assets from the partnership that you keep).
If this means you need to pay Capital Gains Tax, you may be able to reduce the amount by claiming Entrepreneurs’ Relief. You may also be able to claim other reliefs.