Former Premier League footballer and international manager, John Barnes, has been disqualified as a director following his company's failure to settle tens of thousands of pounds in tax dues.

Investigations conducted by the Insolvency Service unveiled that Barnes' company, John Barnes Media Limited, neglected to remit over £190,000 in corporation tax and VAT between 2018 and 2020. HM Revenue and Customs stood as the sole known creditor upon the company's cessation of trading.

Barnes has voluntarily signed a disqualification undertaking, debarring him from holding a directorship for the ensuing three-and-a-half years.

Mike Smith, the Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, remarked:

"Non-payment of taxes by individuals and businesses deprives the government of essential funding required for public services, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure."

"John Barnes had a legal obligation to ensure his company met its dues in corporation tax and VAT. However, it failed to contribute any tax whatsoever from November 2018 to October 2020, despite accumulating earnings exceeding £400,000."

"This disqualification should serve as a cautionary tale for other directors: failing to meet tax obligations while diverting funds elsewhere poses the risk of disbarment."

Barnes, who earned 79 caps for England during his illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades, established John Barnes Media Limited in September 2012.

The company, where Barnes served as the sole director, specialised in media representation services.

During the period from November 2018 to October 2020, John Barnes Media Limited recorded a turnover of £441,798.

Despite filing returns indicating VAT obligations, no payments were made to HM Revenue and Customs during this time frame.

The Insolvency Service's probe revealed that between August 2018 and January 2020, John Barnes Media failed to pay £78,839 in corporation tax before ceasing operations. Additionally, it failed to settle £115,272 in VAT between February 2019 and 2020.

Investigations into Barnes' directorial conduct commenced in September 2023, culminating in the acceptance of a disqualification undertaking by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. His disqualification took effect on Wednesday 24 April, barring him from participating in the promotion, formation, or management of a company without court permission.

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