[UK] Umbrella payroll company director gets 8 year ban

An umbrella payroll company director has been disqualified after running an umbrella payroll services company with links to the Isle of Man, potentially costing the public purse millions in unpaid income tax, National Insurance Contributions and Corporation Tax, GOV.uk reports.

Adrian Benedict Sacco (55) - originally from Malta - was the sole director of Best Employment Services (BES), which was incorporated in March 2015 and provided umbrella payroll services to senior or specialist high-earning contractors across various sectors, such as engineering, IT or HR, who were often working on short-term projects or fixed contracts.

The BES website advised contractors that, based on an income of £100,000, they could retain £90,000, compared to £75,000 if they declared earnings through a limited company, or £55,000 if they were taxed as a standard employee through Pay As You Earn (PAYE). Contractors paid a fee to the company for providing this service.

BES received payment from clients for its employees’ work as a normal supplier. However, instead of then paying its employees their wages with the appropriate tax deductions, it paid them a small amount through PAYE, and the remainder was paid out to them as a loan. Neither PAYE nor National Insurance was deducted and paid for the loan portion of employees' remuneration as it should have been.

BES outsourced its administrative functions to a number of connected companies in the Isle of Man. BES’ profits from its fees were reportedly split between these companies on a monthly basis, meaning BES reduced its profits and reduced its corporation tax liability. Mr Sacco was also a co-owner of one of these companies and received an income from it. The Insolvency Service investigation found a total of nearly £25 million paid to these companies by BES.

Some of the outstanding loans due from BES’ employees were transferred to Retentia Services Limited - a company registered in Anguilla - with a £20 million loan book being exchanged by BES for an indemnity agreement. This arrangement ensured that BES retained fewer financial assets and Mr Sacco knew there were no claims for which the indemnity would ever have been liable. Retentia was dissolved before the loans fell due meaning the loans made by BES to its employees were never recovered, nor did BES ever pay the correct tax on its employees’ earnings.

Following the liquidation of BES in March 2019 after auditors flagged concerns regarding the 2017 accounts and which led to a claim by HMRC for £2.7m in relation to unpaid corporation tax, the High Court also approved the liquidator's winding-up order for the company in Anguilla, and efforts are being made to recover funds.

At the point of liquidation, HMRC reportedly has outstanding claims of £4.1 million comprising corporation tax, PAYE, VAT and interest although this claim is expected to increase.

Adrian Sacco - who has previously been a director of several other payroll companies which have been dissolved or liquidated over this period - was aware that the business model was open to challenge from HMRC. In the subsequent Insolvency Service investigation, he confirmed that he had taken legal advice but not in specific relation to BES’ business model.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Adrian Sacco, after he admitted failing in his fiduciary duty as a director, and breaching the Companies Act 2006 by failing to act with reasonable care, skill and diligence by employing such a business model. His disqualification is effective from 24 May 2022 and lasts for eight years.

The disqualification undertaking prevents him from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Mark Bruce - chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service - said, “Despite his awareness of the risks, Adrian Sacco has failed in his duties to his employees whilst wilfully abusing the tax system for his own personal benefit. He has shown complete contempt for taxpayers and to those his company was supposed to be providing a service to.

“This disqualification should serve as a warning to any other company directors who may be tempted to operate similar business models and flout their obligations that they will be investigated and punished.”

Source: GOV.uk

(Quote via original reporting)

An umbrella payroll company director has been disqualified after running an umbrella payroll services company with links to the Isle of Man, potentially costing the public purse millions in unpaid income tax, National Insurance Contributions and Corporation Tax, GOV.uk reports.

Adrian Benedict Sacco (55) - originally from Malta - was the sole director of Best Employment Services (BES), which was incorporated in March 2015 and provided umbrella payroll services to senior or specialist high-earning contractors across various sectors, such as engineering, IT or HR, who were often working on short-term projects or fixed contracts.

The BES website advised contractors that, based on an income of £100,000, they could retain £90,000, compared to £75,000 if they declared earnings through a limited company, or £55,000 if they were taxed as a standard employee through Pay As You Earn (PAYE). Contractors paid a fee to the company for providing this service.

BES received payment from clients for its employees’ work as a normal supplier. However, instead of then paying its employees their wages with the appropriate tax deductions, it paid them a small amount through PAYE, and the remainder was paid out to them as a loan. Neither PAYE nor National Insurance was deducted and paid for the loan portion of employees' remuneration as it should have been.

BES outsourced its administrative functions to a number of connected companies in the Isle of Man. BES’ profits from its fees were reportedly split between these companies on a monthly basis, meaning BES reduced its profits and reduced its corporation tax liability. Mr Sacco was also a co-owner of one of these companies and received an income from it. The Insolvency Service investigation found a total of nearly £25 million paid to these companies by BES.

Some of the outstanding loans due from BES’ employees were transferred to Retentia Services Limited - a company registered in Anguilla - with a £20 million loan book being exchanged by BES for an indemnity agreement. This arrangement ensured that BES retained fewer financial assets and Mr Sacco knew there were no claims for which the indemnity would ever have been liable. Retentia was dissolved before the loans fell due meaning the loans made by BES to its employees were never recovered, nor did BES ever pay the correct tax on its employees’ earnings.

Following the liquidation of BES in March 2019 after auditors flagged concerns regarding the 2017 accounts and which led to a claim by HMRC for £2.7m in relation to unpaid corporation tax, the High Court also approved the liquidator's winding-up order for the company in Anguilla, and efforts are being made to recover funds.

At the point of liquidation, HMRC reportedly has outstanding claims of £4.1 million comprising corporation tax, PAYE, VAT and interest although this claim is expected to increase.

Adrian Sacco - who has previously been a director of several other payroll companies which have been dissolved or liquidated over this period - was aware that the business model was open to challenge from HMRC. In the subsequent Insolvency Service investigation, he confirmed that he had taken legal advice but not in specific relation to BES’ business model.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Adrian Sacco, after he admitted failing in his fiduciary duty as a director, and breaching the Companies Act 2006 by failing to act with reasonable care, skill and diligence by employing such a business model. His disqualification is effective from 24 May 2022 and lasts for eight years.

The disqualification undertaking prevents him from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Mark Bruce - chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service - said, “Despite his awareness of the risks, Adrian Sacco has failed in his duties to his employees whilst wilfully abusing the tax system for his own personal benefit. He has shown complete contempt for taxpayers and to those his company was supposed to be providing a service to.

“This disqualification should serve as a warning to any other company directors who may be tempted to operate similar business models and flout their obligations that they will be investigated and punished.”

Source: GOV.uk

(Quote via original reporting)