John Barnes: Ex-England and Liverpool star banned as company director over unpaid taxes
John Barnes has been banned as a director after his company failed to pay almost £200,000 in tax.
The ex-England and Liverpool star signed a disqualification undertaking which barred him from being a company director for three-and-a-half years, the Insolvency Service has said.
This came about because his company John Barnes Media Limited, failed to pay any corporation tax and VAT from 2018 to 2020
The Insolvency Service launched an investigation in September 2023.
Barnes was the sole director of the company, based in West Byfleet, Surrey, which said it offered media representation services.
From November 2018 to October 2020, John Barnes Media had a turnover of £441,798.
Over this period, nothing was paid to HMRC.
This was despite the fact the company filed returns showing what the VAT payments should have been.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Read more from Sky News:
Horses cause ‘mayhem’ after bolting through central London
Two Premier League players arrested over alleged rape
Train strikes in May – full list of lines affected
The investigation showed that the company failed to pay £78,839 in corporation tax from August 2018 to January 2020 – when it ceased trading.
The company also failed to £115,272 in VAT from February 2019 to 2020.
Across a playing career spanning almost two decades, Barnes earned 79 caps for England before he formed John Barnes Media Limited in September 2012.
Mike Smith, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Individuals and businesses not paying the tax they should deprives the government of the funding it needs to provide vital public services and investment in areas such as schools, hospitals and roads.
“John Barnes had a legal duty to ensure his company paid the correct amount of corporation tax and VAT.
“Instead, it paid no tax whatsoever between November 2018 and October 2020, despite receiving earnings of well over £400,000.
“This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors that if you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you are at risk of being banned”.
The secretary of state for business and trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Barnes and his ban started on Wednesday 24 April.
It prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without the permission of the court.
Related
Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race urges golfers to ‘go…
Prostate Cancer UK is calling on golfers across the UK to go the distance this summer and take on The Big Golf Race to help fund life-saving projects
UK to hike defence spending and cut aid budget, Starmer…
British prime minister Keir Starmer’s announcement comes prior to his trip to the United States later this week.The United Kingdom will increase its annual de
Moss expands UK offering with Rocket Graphics buy – Printweek
Moss has returned to the M&A trail, expanding its presence in the UK with the acquisition of Rocket Graphics. US
Joint Statement on the resumption of India-UK trade negotiations |…
Joint Statement on the resumption of India-UK trade negotiations The Republic of India and the United Kingdom have resumed negotiations towards a trade de
