The directors of a restaurant in Kent have been disqualified for a combined total of ten and a half years after an Insolvency Service investigation found they owed HMRC more than £400,000 and had failed to declare cash takings
Moynoor and Angura Rashid were the directors of Salma Cuisine Ltd which traded as Salma Restaurant, based in the village of Wingham near Canterbury. The business was set up in July 2004 and was placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation in September 2016
At liquidation, the company owed in excess of £400,000 to HMRC.
An in-depth HMRC investigation revealed significant suppression of cash takings, resulting in a VAT assessment of £85,794 and additional penalties of £52,897 being raised. HMRC also reassessed the company’s corporation tax liability to be £135,009.
Moynoor Rashid was also issued with a personal liability notice of £80,967 due to the deliberate suppression of sales income. He has been given a seven year band and Angura Rashid has been disqualified for three and a half years.
David Brooks, a chief investigator with 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.’
Report by Pat Sweet
