How Long an IVA Shows, Question by Question
Exactly when the marker clears, and when you can rebuild.
How long does an IVA stay on my credit file?
Six years from the date it starts. An IVA is recorded on your credit file for six years from its start date, the date it was approved, rather than from when you finish paying. This is a key point that often surprises people: the clock runs from the beginning, so much of the six years overlaps with the IVA itself.
Is it six years from the start or the end?
From the start, which works in your favour. Because the six years is measured from when the IVA began, not when it completed, a good chunk of that time passes while you are still in the arrangement. So you are not facing six more years of the marker after finishing, for most people it is already most of the way through by the time they complete.
When will it drop off for a 5-year IVA?
Usually about a year after you finish. If your IVA runs the standard five years, the six-year credit marker drops off roughly twelve months after completion. So there is a relatively short window after finishing where the record still shows, before it clears automatically and your file looks markedly healthier.
What about a 6-year IVA?
It drops off at around the time you complete. If your IVA runs six years, perhaps because of the equity rules or a payment break, the six-year credit marker reaches its end at about the same time you finish paying. In that case the record clears very shortly after completion, with little or no gap. Either way, removal happens automatically.
Do I have to do anything to remove it?
No, it comes off automatically. You do not need to apply to have the IVA removed from your credit file; the credit reference agencies remove it once the six years from the start date have passed. It is still worth checking your file afterwards to confirm it has gone and that no related debts are wrongly showing as outstanding, but the removal itself is automatic.
What about the Individual Insolvency Register?
That is separate, and clears sooner. While your IVA is active you are listed on the public Individual Insolvency Register, but you are removed from it three months after the IVA completes. This register is different from your credit file. So once you finish, your entry there disappears within about three months, even though the credit-file marker runs to the full six years.
Can I rebuild while it's still showing?
Yes, you do not have to wait for it to clear. You can begin rebuilding your credit straight after the IVA completes, even while the marker is still on your file. Good habits, paying on time, using a little credit responsibly, registering to vote, start improving your profile right away. The marker dropping off then gives your score a further lift on top of the progress you have already made.
Should I get advice?
If you are planning around the timings, yes. A free, impartial adviser can confirm exactly when your IVA will drop off and how to rebuild most effectively, which is useful if you are aiming for a mortgage or other credit afterwards. Knowing the dates lets you plan with confidence. It costs nothing to get a clear picture of where you stand.
