A former director of a Bolton business has been hit with a ban after more than £500,000 was owed by the firm to the taxman.

Salim Abdullah, of Mancroft Avenue, Great Lever, has received the disqualification after business accounts were examined by government agency, The Insolvency Service.

Mr Abdullah, 57, was a director at Driversclaims, registered at Wadsworth Commercial Park on Bridgeman Street in Great Lever, for the majority of the time between February 1, 2007, and November 1, 2018.

An Insolvency Service report concluded he had been found to have caused or allowed Driversclaims to submit VAT returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which included "inaccurate information" during his time as director.

The company was liquidated on July 22, 2020, at which point the company had total liabilities of £587,430 with at least £550,651 due in respect of VAT to HMRC.

This figure was mostly made up of VAT owed to HMRC - £339,723 – as well as surcharges, interest, and £201,603 worth of penalties for periods between November 1, 2009, and 31 October 31, 2018 - the date prior to his resignation as a director. 

Being disqualified means that Mr Abdullah is unable to do any of the following:

  • Be a director of a UK-registered company, or an overseas company that has UK connections
  • Be involved in forming, marketing or running a company
  • Sit on the board of a charity, school or police authority
  • Be a pension trustee
  • Sit on a health board or social care body
  • Be a registered social landlord
  • Be a solicitor, barrister or accountant

In addition to a six-year disqualification, Mr Abdullah’s details have been published online in the Companies House database of disqualified directors and the Insolvency Service's register of directors who have been disqualified in the last three months. This listing includes the details of his disqualification.

If Mr Abdullah were to break the director disqualification rules it would be considered a criminal offence. This could lead to him becoming personally liable for the debts that the company incurred during his time as director.

Rule-breaking could also be punishable by a prison sentence of up to two years, alongside or instead of being liable for the debts.

 

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