The owner of Hastings Pier (still closed!), (not a real Sheikh) Abid Gulzar, was fined in Hastings Magistrates Court yesterday for failing to comply with HMRC tax regulations regarding staff PAYE at his Eastbourne hotels (Eastbourne Herald); not the first time he has had a brush with HMRC and the Law (eg Eastbourne Herald). This, following his ally, (not a real Lord) Brett McLean intimating that he had been let off because HMRC had made a mistake...
Since originally writing this I have found out more about the sums involved (BBC). Gulzar was fined £8,000 for failing to pay HMRC "almost £62,000" and, in addition, his two companies, Mansion Lions Hotel Ltd and Albany Lions Hotel Ltd, "were fined £4,000 each for failing to pay £40,000 and £22,000 respectively for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance contributions."
"Speaking after the case, Richard Wilkinson, assistant director of HMRC's fraud investigation service, said: 'HMRC made numerous attempts to engage with Gulzar, who was trading illegally as he failed to pay the security bonds and then tried to thwart the prosecution.' "
Since originally writing this I have found out more about the sums involved (BBC). Gulzar was fined £8,000 for failing to pay HMRC "almost £62,000" and, in addition, his two companies, Mansion Lions Hotel Ltd and Albany Lions Hotel Ltd, "were fined £4,000 each for failing to pay £40,000 and £22,000 respectively for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance contributions."
"Speaking after the case, Richard Wilkinson, assistant director of HMRC's fraud investigation service, said: 'HMRC made numerous attempts to engage with Gulzar, who was trading illegally as he failed to pay the security bonds and then tried to thwart the prosecution.' "
Worrying times for anyone applying for jobs, whenever the Pier reopens!
I think you forgot a few words in your final sentence here Steve.
ReplyDeleteSurely it should be, "whenever (OR IF EVER) the pier reopens!
I have to admit to thinking similar, but I'm being optimistic, surely it will reopen, even after he sells the Pier, maybe...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I discovered a wee bit more about the figures owed to HMRC, which I've added above, and I added a comment from a 'fraud' investigator at HMRC too. Fingers crossed, eh?!?