Rob Cross handed five-year ban as company director over unpaid taxes

Former World Champion Rob Cross has been banned as a director after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax.

Cross, 34, has fallen foul of HMRC over money taken out of the company he used to collect his prize money and other earnings.

The Insolvency Service found Cross withdrew more than £300,000 from his company Rob Cross Darts Limited between March 2020 and November 2023 that should have gone to creditors.

The world number nine, who finished second from bottom of the table in the recent Premier League, had also taken out more than £400,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited in the form of a director’s loan account by the time the company went into liquidation.

Cross has now been banned as a company director until June 2030 and entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement last year in an attempt to pay off some of the money he owes.

The monthly contributions ‘Voltage’ makes to the IVA will vary depending on the income he receives through darts tournaments during this year and future years.

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “When directors fail to pay the correct amount of tax, it directly impacts the government’s ability to fund vital public services such as the NHS, schools, transport infrastructure, and our national defence. 

“Rob Cross’s company owed more than £400,000 in corporation tax alone when it went into liquidation. For more than three years, he withdrew funds from the company which should have gone to HMRC and other creditors.

“This case demonstrates that we will pursue action against directors who deprive the public purse of much-needed funds. The rules apply equally to everyone in business, and we expect all company directors to comply with their legal responsibilities.

“Enforcing these rules consistently is crucial in maintaining a level playing field and preventing companies from gaining an unfair competitive advantage over compliant businesses that properly fulfil their tax obligations.”

Rob Cross Darts Limited was formed in May 2017, with Cross appointed as director on the same day. Insolvency Service investigations found that the company received more than £1 million from Cross’s earnings between the start of March 2020 and the date of liquidation in November 2023.

A total of £169,500 in sponsorships and £261,901 from his management company was also paid in to the company.

However, in the same period, Cross withdrew funds of at least £306,403 from the company which he acknowledged was “to the risk and ultimate detriment of HMRC”, while a further £665,419 was paid into the personal account of a connected party.

By the time the company went into liquidation, it owed £403,896 in corporation tax, £49,071 in VAT, and £12,436 in PAYE and National Insurance contributions. The company had only paid £41,936 to HMRC between March 2020 and November 2023.

Cross’s director’s loan account was also overdrawn by £423,608 when the company went into liquidation with liabilities of £579,805.

Cross’ ban prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court until June 2030.

In March, two-time world finalist Mervyn King was declared bankrupt after it was revealed he owed more than £500,000 to HMRC.