IVA register: what is listed
This guide covers England and Wales
The short answer
The Individual Insolvency Register is an online list of insolvency cases in England and Wales. It covers bankruptcies, Debt Relief Orders and Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs).
An IVA is listed while it runs. It is removed 3 months after the IVA ends. The register is separate from a credit file.
Last checked against GOV.UK: Search the bankruptcy and insolvency register on 30 October 2026.
Checked Sources
Editorial responsibility: IVAs & Bankruptcy — how we check and correct information.
What the register is
It is an online database kept for England and Wales. Each entry is a person whose case is an IVA, a Debt Relief Order (DRO) or a bankruptcy.
It is a public record. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own lists, because their rules are different.
Who can search it and what you can look up
You can look someone up by their name, or by a trading name if they are a sole trader.
Entries show case details, such as the date someone was discharged from their debts. Penalties are not shown on this register. Restrictions are on a separate list that covers the last three months.
How long an IVA stays on the register
The Insolvency Service key facts say an IVA is listed on the Individual Insolvency Register while it runs. It is removed 3 months after it ends.
This is not the same clock as a credit file. An IVA appears on a credit file for 6 years from the date it starts.
- For a bankruptcy, the register is updated within 3 months of discharge.
- GOV.UK says records are usually removed within three months after a case ends.
If an entry looks wrong
GOV.UK says to contact the office that handled the insolvency to correct a mistake.
Free debt advice can explain what a listing means for you.
What to do next
Free, independent debt advice
These services are free. They will not judge you, and they can look at your whole situation.
Free debt advice charity. They can talk through all your options with you.
Call free: 0800 138 1111 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
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Call free: 0808 808 4000 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
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Free advice on debt, housing, benefits and more. By phone, online or in person.
Call free: 0800 144 8848 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
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Free money guidance backed by government. It has a tool to find free debt advice near you.
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Related guides
- How an IVA affects your credit recordHow long an IVA stays on your credit file and on the public register, and what that can mean when you want to borrow.
- How long does an IVA last?Understand IVA payment terms, extensions, completion and the separate credit-file timeline. Check the terms of your own arrangement.
- Find free debt and housing helpFree, independent debt advice and urgent housing help in England and Wales: StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice, Shelter and more.