Father and son banned over VAT debts

A FATHER and son who ran an engineering business in Ellesmere Port have each been disqualified for six years for failing to pay tax.

Anthony Meadows and his father Kenneth Meadows, ran Quality Assurance (NDE) Limited, which specialised in non-destructive testing.

It went into liquidation in July 2011 owing creditors £247,466. An Insolvency Service investigation found the company stopped paying VAT in 2009 and as a result HM Revenue and Customs was owed £106,948.

They both gave undertakings to the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) agreeing not to manage or in any way control a company or act as directors for the duration of the disqualification.

The investigation also found that Quality Assurance also made a payment of £24,893 to an associated company in June 2011, at a time when Kenneth and Anthony Meadows knew that Quality Assurance was insolvent.

Lead investigator Claire Entwistle said: “Failure to properly comply with taxation requirements will be severely dealt with by The Insolvency Service. The protection afforded by limited liability is based on company directors meeting their duties and obligations, including those to the Crown. If they fail to meet these obligations, the Insolvency Service will see that this protection be withdrawn.”