Takeaway boss banned for seven years after tax avoidance

A Norwich-based takeaway owner has been disqualified after deliberately under-declaring takings to avoid paying taxes.

Huseyin Gozel was appointed director of Mardin & Maras Limited in June 2014, which was incorporated in May 2012 and traded as Caesar’s Pizza & Kebab.

Mardin & Maras entered liquidation after being unable to pay debts in September 2019, with Gozel being referred to the Insolvency Service for further investigation.

Upon further enquiry, it was revealed Gozel had caused the company to deliberately suppress its takings on returns submitted to the tax authorities from February 2013 until May 2018.

The business owed the tax authorities more than £400,000, including interest and penalties, in total liquidation.

Lawrence Zussman, deputy director of Insolvent Investigations, said: “Huseyin Gozel did not take his responsibilities as a director seriously enough and, throughout the time he was involved in the company, deliberately under-declared sales to avoid the takeaway meeting its tax obligations.

“More than £400,000 is missing from the public purse due to Huseyin Gozel’s misconduct and this disqualification means he will be banned from acting as a director in any business for seven years.”