STORY
Sheffield-based payroll director Hubert Omukhulu has been disqualified from acting as a company director for eight years after his firm, Remedy Payroll Solutions Ltd, went into liquidation owing more than £2.5 million in unpaid VAT. An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Insolvency Service revealed that between June 2020 and September 2021, Omukhulu submitted six VAT returns that significantly under-declared the company’s tax liabilities. In 2020, the company reported no VAT due, and in 2021, it declared just over £264,000. However, HMRC’s analysis determined that the actual VAT owed during this period was £2,584,044.
Omukhulu, 36, of Nethershire Lane, Sheffield, was the sole director of Remedy Payroll Solutions, which was incorporated in May 2020. The company initially operated from Omukhulu’s home address before changing its registered office multiple times to locations in Romford and Hainault. The firm entered liquidation in July 2022.
Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, commented:
“Hubert Omukhulu allowed his payroll supply company to substantially under-declare the amount of VAT it owed in 2020 and 2021. More than £2 million in VAT was not paid by the company. This money should have gone towards funding vital public services such as the NHS, schools and our nation’s defence. Omukhulu’s conduct falls well below the standards the Insolvency Service expects, which is why he has been banned as a company director until 2033.”
Debbie Porter, Assistant Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, added:
“We are determined to create a level playing field that allows honest businesses to thrive, which is why it’s crucial we work closely with the Insolvency Service and other partners to act against rogue directors. The majority pay the tax that is due, but we will pursue those who refuse to play by the rules.”
The disqualification prevents Omukhulu from being involved in the promotion, formation, or management of a company without the permission of the court until 2033.