John Barnes was banned as a director after his company failed to pay almost £200,000 in tax.
The former England and Liverpool star signed a disqualification agreement which banned him from being a company director for three and a half years, the Insolvency Service said.
This happened because his company, John Barnes Media Limited, did not pay any corporation tax and VAT from 2018 to 2020
The Insolvency Service launched an investigation in September 2023.
Barnes was the sole director of the company, based in West Byfleet, Surrey, which claimed to offer media representation services.
From November 2018 to October 2020, John Barnes Media had a turnover of £441,798.
During this period, nothing was paid to HMRC.
This occurred despite the company submitting statements showing what the VAT payments should have been.
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The investigation showed the company failed to pay £78,839 in corporation tax from August 2018 to January 2020 – when it ceased trading.
The company also failed to pay £115,272 in VAT from February 2019 to 2020.
Over a playing career spanning almost two decades, Barnes won 79 caps for England before forming John Barnes Media Limited in September 2012.
Mike Smith, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Individuals and businesses failing to pay the taxes they should deprive 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, he did not pay any tax 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 don’t pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you risk being banned.”
The Secretary of State for Business and Commerce accepted an undertaking to disqualify Barnes and his ban began on Wednesday 24 April.
It prevents you from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without authorization from the court.
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