Need advice re: tax office saying im a company secretary when im not??

[mrsdaz]

Hi all, i hope someone can give me some advice.

I worked for a company from 1999 until August 2006, the directors had a dispute and closed the company down..at this point i left the company. I am now receiving letters from the tax office demanding £14,000 in 14 days as i am listed as a director of a company started in Oct 2006 by one of the guys i used to work with.

I had bailiffs knocking the door 2 years ago and i told them i had nothing to do with the company and i gave them an adress of where the guy lived. I managed to get in touch with him and he confirmed i was nothing to do with the company and not to worry about it. I should have done something more at the time but just thought it was an error. Now i am thinking my ex boss has forged my name on something. (he is a dodgy character and i only worked there due to the other director, hence why i left when he did). He is not a nice person and constantly evaded payments and shifted the blame to others.

I am so scared about this, I am going to ring the tax office in the morning but just wanted some advice incase they say i have to pay it.

Thanks in advance.

Can you contact Companies House and get copies of the forms? This will really help.

You won't have to pay, it sounds like a criminal matter though.

I had a look at companies house website but it just confused me! I will ring them tomorrow and see if i can get any details..thanks for replying.

You can look at company records online quite easily through the Companies House website - whether they filed a return, who the officers are etc.

xpost :o. Hope you get some joy tomorrow.

It says on companies house "propsal to strike off" but doesnt give any names?

Under the data protection act they won't give specifics out, you'd need to contact them.

I get free legal advice under my household insurance, as it's technically not business advice you are after then you could give yours a call.

A proposal to strike off (as far as I'm aware) is very serious, it prevents someone from being a company director for a number of years. If they are demanging money from you it does mean that the business has gone under and you, as a 'director' are liable for a proportion of the debts. It sounds like fraud to me as the real director is using your (and maybe others) names to limit his liablility.

Companies house first, then the tax, then probably the police.

Companies House WILL give specifics out. When someone signs the form to become a Company Director or Secretary they agree to Companies House giving out this information to anyone who asks.

To find out if you are listed as a Director of this company go to the Companies House website, click on WebCheck, enter the company name and click on Search. Now click on the name of the company and you will get a page with basic details. Click on "Order information on this company". The page that comes up will give you the company filing history. If you select "Current Appointments Record" then Add to Order and go through the order process you will get details of the Secretary and all the Directors of this company. It will cost you £1. If you are listed as either a Director or Secretary you should report the matter to the Police.

You could, of course, go straight to the Police without bothering to check with Companies House. The fact bailiffs have visited on behalf of HMRC strongly suggests that you have been fraudulently listed as a Director of this company.

Do you remember wether you were removed as a director or secretary?

Sadly electronic returns mean you don't have to sign anything to be put on the board these days - I know because I had to change myself as I was in my maiden name when I started and I had to provide no proof to take one name off and add another. Report it to Companies house (both by phone and in writing and ask them to investigate). You should also check your credit file. :(

Hi all,

Thank you again for the replies. I have spoken to HMRC this morning and they say i am listed as a co secretary. I explained i had nothing to do with it and they said they wont pursue me any further, she said its up to me if i do anything else about it i.e. going to the police.

What would be my best course of action now? Im scared to just leave it incase something else happens in the future.

If you have been listed as company secretary without ever agreeing to such an appointment you should report it to the police. You don't want other people chasing you for this company's debts.

You should check your credit reference files, you will need a crime reference number to get anything wipped off that shouldn't be there so you really should report this to the police.

You do need to go to the police. You need to make a statement because it's technically identity theft and if you don't formally report it and it comes back to bite you on the arse it will make things difficult if you haven't reported it. Also you may actually be required to give evidence if the police are already prosecuting these charming people.