Despite not having preference over other unsecured creditors, the law changed in April 2014 to allow HMRC to seize tax that is owed from an individual or company bank account. In principle, you should receive several warnings and your bank account may be frozen as a ‘warning sign’ before any money is actually taken from the account. They must leave at least £5,000 in your bank account and can take as little as £1,000.