Rob Cross, the former world darts champion, has been banned from serving as a company director for five years after his firm failed to pay over £450,000 in taxes.
The ruling follows an investigation by the UK Insolvency Service into financial mismanagement at Rob Cross Darts Limited between March 2020 and November 2023.
The ban, which took effect recently, means Cross cannot be involved in promoting, forming, or managing any UK company unless granted permission by a court.
Over £450K in Unpaid Taxes, £300K Withdrawn
The investigation uncovered that Cross withdrew more than £300,000 from his company during the three-year period — funds that should have been used to repay creditors.
Despite earning over £1 million during that time, his firm paid only £41,936 to HMRC.
When the company collapsed, it owed:
- £403,896 in Corporation Tax
- £49,071 in VAT
- £12,436 in PAYE/National Insurance
Additionally, his director’s loan account was overdrawn by £423,608, and the company’s total liabilities reached £579,805.
Voluntary Agreement to Repay Debt
In a move to address the outstanding debts, Cross has entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA).
This legally binding deal commits him to making regular payments under the supervision of an insolvency practitioner.
The situation has drawn attention beyond the darts community.
A total of £650,000 was also discovered to have been paid into a personal account linked to a connected party, adding further scrutiny.
Serious Impact on Public Services
Kevin Read, the chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, condemned the misconduct:
“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.”
