Two directors who owed £400,000 to taxman disqualified for supressing takings

Two directors of a restaurant in Wingham, Kent who owed more than £400,000 to the taxman, have been disqualified for a combined 10 and a half years.

Moynoor and Angura Rashid were directors of Salma Cuisine Limited which traded as Salma restaurant at 45 High Street, which served Indian cuisine.

Following investigations by the Insolvency Service and HMRC they have both been disqualified from acting as company directors - Moynoor for seven years and Angura for three and a half.

The HMRC found "significant suppression of cash takings" resulting in a VAT assessment of £85,794 and additional penalties of £52,897 being raised. The company's corporation tax liability was reassessed at £135,009.

Moynoor was also issued with a personal liability notice of £80,967 due to the deliberate suppression of sales income.

The company entered voluntary liquidation on 16 September, owing in excess of £400,000 to HMRC.

David Brooks a chief investigator at the Insolvency Service said: "The periods of these disqualifications sends a clear message to other company directors that tax abuse of any kind will not be tolerated, especially when takings are channelled to directors.

"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 therefore will not hesitate to remove bosses from the business environment in order to protect the public."

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