A Bedfordshire joiner whose two companies failed to pay more than £300,000 in tax has been sentenced after ignoring a director disqualification – he also owed more than £50,000 to other tradespeople
Robert Kurzawa was banned as a director for three years in 2017 after his RK UK Construction Ltd company went into liquidation owing more than £195,000 in tax, but he continued acting as a director of his separate RK UK Joinery Ltd company in all but name following his disqualification.
RK UK Joinery Ltd was wound-up by the courts in November 2018 following a petition from HMRC in relation to a further £108,000 in unpaid taxes. He owed more than £50,000 to other tradespeople
Kurzawa, 45, of Crabtree Way, Dunstable, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, at Luton Crown Court on Friday 5 September.
He was also disqualified as a company director for a further four years.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Company directors can be disqualified for a number of reasons, including for not paying the right amount of tax. When directors are banned, they are expected not to be involved in the formation, promotion or management of a company.
“Directors breaching their disqualifications is a serious offence which undermines economic confidence. If unfit directors such as Robert Kurzawa continue to act in that role, there is an increased risk that the companies they manage will go into liquidation, with a loss to creditors.
“This is exactly what happened when Kurzawa deliberately ignored the restrictions that were placed on him.
“The Insolvency Service will continue to work hard to ensure the UK remains a safe and fair place to do business.”
