Liverpool hero John Barnes racks up £1.5million worth of debt, new court documents show

Wales Online

5 days ago

Liverpool hero John Barnes racks up £1.5million worth of debt, new court documents show
John Barnes is said to owe huge sums of money to HMRC and other creditors after fresh paperwork from liquidators was presented
John Barnes is in hot water with HMRC
(Image: PA )
Former Liverpool star John Barnes has accumulated debts of £1.5m with his media company, according to recent documents from liquidators.
The ex-winger owes considerable amounts to HMRC and other creditors, including £776,878 in unpaid VAT, NI, and PAYE, £461,849 to unsecured creditors, a director's loan of £226,000, and liquidator's costs of £56,535. Barnes has repaid £60,000 after agreeing to repay the director's loan in instalments.
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However, the latest report indicates that only a "small distribution" towards the tax bill will be paid, and "no funds" will be available to pay unsecured creditors. John Barnes Media Limited went into liquidation in 2023 due to unpaid taxes.
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Barnes, 61, was banned as a company director for three-and-a-half years last year after his media firm failed to pay £190,000 in VAT and corporation tax. An investigation by the Insolvency Service, which started in September 2023, found that the company failed to pay £78,839 in corporation tax between August 2018 and January 2020.
Additionally, the company failed to pay £115,272 in VAT between February 2019 and 2020. During this period, the company's turnover was £441,798, and the company's tax returns outlined the required VAT payments, reports the Mirror.
A statement from the Insolvency Service read: "The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Barnes. His ban started on Wednesday 24 April."
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As per the GOV.UK website, Barnes' ban prevents him from "being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court."
Barnes was a key part of England's Italia 90 squad
(Image: Mirrorpix )
Meanwhile, a statement from Mike Smith, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service at the time of the ban, read: "Individuals and businesses not paying the tax they should deprives the government of the funding it needs to provide vital public services and investment in areas such as schools, hospitals and roads.
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"John Barnes had a legal duty to ensure his company paid the correct amount of corporation tax and VAT. Instead, it paid no tax whatsoever between November 2018 and October 2020, despite receiving earnings of well over £400,00.
"This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors that if you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you are at risk of being banned."
The Liverpool icon has racked up the debt
(Image: Getty Images )
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Barnes, who has represented England 79 times, also had stints with Watford and Newcastle United. He established the company in September 2012, serving as its sole director.
When approached by the Mirror at his residence in Heswall on the Wirral, he chose not to comment. He has been the focus of six separate bankruptcy petitions since 2010.
In a 2009 interview, he said: "I don't like dealing with taxes, of course. I just hate not having enough money. Apart from that, I don't like dealing with bills and never have done. I let my wife Andrea deal with them. I don't even like opening them."