Fish and chip shop directors banned for five years

Two restaurant directors have been served with five-year bans for failing to record cash takings and submitting inaccurate VAT returns.

Costas and Chrystalla Castrinakis of Gambino Fish Ltd trading as Quality Fish in Croydon were banned from acting as directors on 10 December 2017.

A HMRC investigation revealed that the company had failed to record all of its cash takings and under-declared the VAT due to HMRC. HMRC raised a VAT assessment of £53,332.

At liquidation the company owed HMRC more than £164,000 in relation to arrears of VAT, PAYE and National Insurance contributions and Corporation Tax.

Lawrence Zussman, deputy head of investigations with the Insolvency Service said: "The periods of these disqualifications sends a clear message to other company directors that tax abuse of any kind, particularly when it comes to suppression of cash takings by directors will not be tolerated.

"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."

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

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