The former landlord of The Albion pub in Bristol has been disqualified as a company director for three and a half years for trading to the detriment of HMRC, after an Insolvency Service investigation found he owed £180,000 in VAT
Owain George was the director of OMI Partnership Ltd trading as The Albion, a pub in Clifton near Bristol. The company was placed into liquidation in February 2015 with an estimated deficiency to creditors in excess of £627,825 and outstanding VAT bill totalling £180,567.
The Insolvency Service investigation found that George had unfairly discriminated against HMRC by choosing to pay other trade creditors in advance of the company’s VAT owed to HMRC for a period between January 2014 and 13 February 2015.
Robert Clarke, senior investigator, Insolvency Service, said: ‘Company directors have a duty to ensure businesses meet their legal obligations, including paying taxes. Deliberate neglect of tax affairs is not a victimless action - it deprives public services of vital money and introduces unfair competition in the business market.’
