Former Liverpool FC player John Barnes hit with ban after company fails to pay thousands in tax

Former Liverpool FC star John Barnes has been banned as a company director after his company failed to pay thousands of pounds in tax.

An investigation was launched by the Insolvency Service after the 61-year-old’s company, John Barnes Media Limited, went into liquidation in 2023. The investigation found that between 2018 and 2020, the company failed to pay more than £190,000 in corporation tax and VAT, with HM Revenue and Customs its only known creditor when it ceased trading.

The ex footballer, who enjoyed a legendary career with the Reds from 1987 – 1997, has signed a director disqualification undertaking banning him from being a company director for the next three-and-a-half years. The ban has came into force today and prevents the former England international from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

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The chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, Mike Smith, said: “Individuals and businesses not paying the tax they should deprives the government of the funding it needs to provide vital public services and investment in areas such as schools, hospitals and roads.

“John Barnes had a legal duty to ensure his company paid the correct amount of corporation tax and VAT. Instead, it paid no tax whatsoever between November 2018 and October 2020, despite receiving earnings of well over £400,000. This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors that if you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you are at risk of being banned.”

John Barnes Media Limited was formed in September 2012 and described itself as offering media representation services. Barnes’ business address is Park Court, Pyrford Road, West Byfleet, Surrey and the company’s turnover was £441,798 between November 2018 and October 2020.

An investigation found nothing was paid to HM Revenue and Customs in tax during that period, despite the company filing returns showing what the VAT payments should have been. The Insolvency Service’s investigation showed that John Barnes Media failed to pay £78,839 in corporation tax between August 2018 and January 2020, when the company ceased trading.