Rob Cross slapped with five-year ban over £450k tax debt

 

Rob Cross slapped with five-year ban over £450k tax debt Rob Cross, the 2018 PDC World Darts Champion, has been banned from acting as a company director for five years, until June 2030, after failing to pay over £450,000 in taxes through his company, Rob Cross Darts Limited. The Insolvency Service investigation revealed that between March 2020 and November 2023, Cross withdrew £306,403 from the company, funds that should have been paid to creditors, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Additionally, he took out a director’s loan exceeding £400,000, and £665,419 was transferred to a connected party’s personal account. When Rob Cross Darts Limited was liquidated in November 2023, it owed £403,896 in corporation tax, £49,071 in VAT, and £12,436 in PAYE and National Insurance, totaling £465,403 in unpaid taxes. The Insolvency Service noted that Cross’s actions left the company unable to meet its tax obligations, contributing to its financial collapse. To address the debt, Cross has entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), through which he will repay a portion of the owed amount based on his earnings from darts tournaments. The five-year ban prohibits Cross from managing, forming, or promoting companies without court permission, a significant consequence for the former world champion. The case highlights the importance of financial responsibility, even for high-profile athletes, and serves as a warning about the repercussions of mismanaging company funds. Despite the ban, Cross can continue competing in professional darts, with his repayment plan tied to his performance in tournaments. The Insolvency Service emphasized that the ban reflects the severity of Cross’s failure to prioritize tax obligations, ensuring creditors were not left unpaid while personal withdrawals were made.

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