A BUSINESSMAN has been disqualified from being a company director after failing to pay tax or submit tax returns on time.

Consultant Scott Thomson Meikle, from Stanhope in Weardale, County Durham, was banned from being a director for five years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

Mr Meikle, 44, of East Lane, was director of Kelvingrove Media Limited from March 2011 and Kelvingrove Consulting Limited from July 2010 until both companies went into liquidation in April 2013.

During that time he failed to supply timely tax returns and accrued tax liabilities of more than £100,000 for each company. He did not dispute the disqualification after admitting to the failures.

When Kelvingrove Media Limited went into liquidation in 2013 a sum of £164,717 was owed to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [HMRC], an increase of £161,356 during the period when Mr Meikle was a returned director.

And when Kelvingrove Consulting Limited went into liquidation the amount owed to HMRC in corporation tax and VAT was £109,306.

The Insolvency Service investigation found that between January 1, 2012 and April 23, 2013, when the companies were liquidated, they spent at least £709,722 while no tax was paid to HMRC. Of the money spent at least £341,503 was paid to Mr Meikle.

Robert Clarke, the Insolvency Service’s head of company investigations, said: “The Insolvency Service will rigorously pursue traders who seek an unfair advantage over their competitors by not paying VAT and corporation tax to the Government.

“If you run a limited company, you have statutory protections as well as obligations. If you fail to comply with your obligations, the Insolvency Service will investigate you and you could lose the protection of limited liability.”

Mr Meikle’s disqualification started on October 16, 2015, which means he will not be allowed to take up a position as director until 2020.

Mr Meikle said he did not want to comment when approached by The Northern Echo.