Construction boss gets 7-year ban for tax abuse

Cristina Angelica Tasca was the director of a construction company specialising in plastering and rendering called Angel Tas Limited, which was incorporated in October 2017. 

Angel Tas began to miss tax payments in 2019. After failing to respond to repeated requests for payment, the tax authorities petitioned to wind up Angel Tas. The courts wound up the construction company on 30 December 2019 before a liquidator was appointed.

The liquidator made numerous requests for information, but Ms Tasca failed to provide any company accounts or records. This meant the liquidator was unable to establish the purpose of more than £716,000 worth of expenditure, including cash withdrawals of £16,000 from the company’s bank.

They were also unable to confirm whether the receipts of nearly £700,000 were a true representation of all the company’s sales.

Following an investigation by the Insolvency Service, the case was heard in Forfar Sheriff Court on 7 July 2021 before Sheriff J Martin-Brown, where Ms Tasca was disqualified for seven years. She is now barred from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without the permission of the court.

Rob Clarke, chief investigator of the Insolvency Service, reminded directors that they have a duty to ensure their companies maintain proper accounting records, even when the company enters into insolvency proceedings.

“For failing to account for all of Angel Tas’ transactions, it is impossible to determine whether Cristina Tasca has performed her duties properly or is using a lack of documentation as a cloak for impropriety,” Mr Clarke said.