The husband and wife directors of a Croydon chippy have each been disqualified for five years, after a combined Insolvency Services and HMRC investigation found they had been sending inaccurate VAT returns
Costas and Chrystalla Castrinakis were the directors of Gambino Fish Ltd trading as Quality Fish, which was incorporated in August 2013.
An in depth HMRC investigation revealed that the company had failed to record all of its cash takings and had therefore under-declared the VAT due to HMRC. As a result, HMRC raised a VAT assessment of £53,332.
At liquidation the company was stated as owing in excess of £164,000 to HMRC in relation to arrears of VAT, PAYE, 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.
Report by Pat Sweet
