Guidance

Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) protocol

The protocol is a voluntary agreement, which provides an agreed standard framework for dealing with straightforward consumer IVAs and applies to both IVA providers and creditors.

From:

The Insolvency Service

Published:

10 July 2014

Last updated:

29 April 2021, see all updates

Documents

IVA Protocol 2021

HTML

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 1: Standard terms and conditions

HTML

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 2: Regulatory framework draft

HTML

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 3: template letter to consumers

ODT, 15KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 4: template simplified IVA proposal

ODT, 26.8KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 5: IVA protocol Annex with flow chart

ODT, 12.5KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 6: IVA distributions

ODT, 12.3KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 7: estimated outcome proforma

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 26.8KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2021 Annex 8: terms of reference

HTML

IVA Protocol 2016

PDF, 431KB, 41 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2016 - annex 5 - standard report sheets

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 53.6KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA Protocol 2014

MS Word Document, 293KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA protocol: changes from 2013

MS Word Document, 32KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA protocol 2013

MS Word Document, 84.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA protocol: changes from 2010

MS Word Document, 29.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA protocol 2010

MS Word Document, 107KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA protocol: changes from 2008

MS Word Document, 33KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

IVA protcol 2008

MS Word Document, 69.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

Details

An individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) is an agreement between a person in debt and his/her creditors. It is a formal (contractual) agreement and can be as flexible as the individual’s circumstances allow. An IVA Protocol has been in operation since early 2008. The purpose of the protocol is to facilitate the efficient handling of straightforward consumer IVAs (as described below). The protocol recognises that the IVA supports a valid public policy objective by providing debt relief for individuals in financial distress. It also recognises that at the centre of this process there is a person, who needs to understand the process and the associated paperwork and the impact that the IVA will have on their lives.

The protocol is a voluntary agreement, which provides an agreed standard framework for dealing with straightforward consumer IVAs and applies to both IVA providers and creditors. By accepting the content of the protocol, IVA providers and creditors agree to follow the processes and agreed documentation that forms part of the protocol. IVA providers indicate their acceptance of the content of the protocol by drawing up a proposal based on the standard documentation, and which states that it follows the protocol. Creditors are expected to abide by the terms of the protocol in relation to proposals drawn up on that basis.

Not all cases can be classified as a straightforward consumer IVA. A person suitable for a straightforward consumer IVA is likely to be:

• in receipt of a regular income either from employment or from a regular pension
• have 3 or more lines of credit from 2 or more creditors

About the operation of the IVA protocol

The IVA Standing Committee was set up to meet regularly and provide information about the operation of the IVA Protocol, in particular:

• How it interacts with the IVA regime generally
• To identify problems/issues arising in the operation of the Protocol at an early stage
• To act as a discussion forum for stakeholders and ensure that information concerning the operation of the IVA regime generally and particularly Protocol cases can be effectively shared and discussed
• To review periodically the Protocol and its standard terms and conditions to ensure they are fit for purpose and to make any changes that are needed

Read IVA Standing Comittee minutes

Published 10 July 2014
Last updated 29 April 2021 + show all updates