Company secretary given five-year ban for suppressing takings

A company secretary, who was working informally as a director of a takeaway in East London, has been disqualified for five years.

Mr Safiullah Alam of AGF Cuisine was disqualified on 15 December 2017 following an investigation by the Insolvency Service and HMRC, which found suppression of takings and identified sales from debit and credit card takings that had been omitted from submitted VAT returns.

In total, HMRC raised assessments of £54,829 and a calculated a penalty of £26,536, deeming that the actions were deliberate.

The company owed in excess of £187,000 to HMRC in relation to arrears of VAT, PAYE and National Insurance Contributions, Corporation Tax and penalties at liquidation.

Lawrence Zussman, deputy head of investigations for the Insolvency Service said: "Much of the public service is funded by the correct amount of taxes being paid. By not declaring and paying the correct amount of taxes, the public has been deprived from receiving the services it deserves from the public sector.

"The Insolvency Service will not hesitate to take action against directors so they cannot abuse limited liability provided by trading through a company."

Staffordshire restaurant owner jailed for £90,000 tax fraud >>

Restaurant director banned for three and a half years for failing to pay VAT >>

Director disqualified for employing illegal workers >>

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