Construction boss banned for nine years over false tax returns

A construction company director has been banned from running companies for nine years after he caused his company to submit false tax returns.

Hardip Singh Khaira, 43, incorporated his firm HK
Construction in May 2011 and provided groundwork construction services,
including drainage and concreting. The company traded from premises in
Coatbridge until July 2019.

In September 2019, the construction firm was subject to a
Creditors Voluntary Liquidation and this brought HK Construction to the
attention of the Insolvency Service.

Investigators uncovered that between November 2011 and
February 2015, Hardip Khaira knowingly caused the company to submit false tax
returns. Some invoices had been brought down to zero rated sales to reduce the
company’s tax liability.

The tax authorities determined that just over £225,000 was
owed by HK Construction, which increased to more than £426,000 when interest
and penalties were applied for the deliberate concealment and failure to pay.

Aware of the liability owed to the tax authorities, Hardip
Khaira placed the company into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation resulting in
outstanding liabilities to the tax authorities of more than £426,000.

Robert Clarke, chief investigator for the Insolvency
Service, said: “It was clear from our investigations that Hardip Khaira
deliberately caused the construction firm to submit false returns to reduce the
amount of tax the company had to pay.

“This is serious misconduct and a nine-year ban not
only demonstrates the severity of what Hardip Khaira has done but also confirms
that we will take action to remove the privilege of limited liability against
those who think they can do the same.”