HMRC has published its newest list of deliberate tax defaulters on 20 November 2025, and, wow… it is quite the line-up.
Over 160 individuals and businesses have been named and shamed for deliberately underpaying more than £25,000 in tax. And as always, the list is a fascinating (and slightly shocking) cross-section of UK industries.
Let’s break down what this means for real business owners, what you can learn from the mistakes of others, and how to make sure your company never finds itself anywhere near this list.
Who Made the List? A Few Eye-Watering Examples
HMRC doesn’t just publish this for fun. These entries are public, searchable and stick around for up to 12 months. Some notable names include:
• Max Distributors Ltd (vape importer), defaulted on over £6.1 million
• Metropolitan International Schools Limited, unpaid tax over £4.8 million
• Euro Recycling Brokers Limited, defaulted on £4.8 million
• GP Total Engagement Ltd, unpaid tax of £314,810
• Warren Christopher Poots, freelance consultant, owed over £199,000
Different industries, different stories, one common thread: serious compliance failures.
HMRC only publishes when the default is considered deliberate. That means the business didn’t simply “miss something”; they either concealed, failed to notify, or misrepresented their tax position during an investigation.
The Real Impact of Making This List
This isn’t just a slap on the wrist. Being on this list means:
• Your name, business, address and tax owed become public record
• You face financial penalties on top of the unpaid tax
• Your reputation takes a hit with customers, suppliers, lenders and investors
• Future HMRC investigations become far more likely
• Professional advisors may even decline to act for you
Once you’re on this list, you don’t get to pretend it was all a misunderstanding.
What Directors Should Take From This
he majority of UK directors are not trying to dodge tax. In fact, most are just trying to do their best while juggling many different responsibilities. But here’s the truth:
When you let your financial records slip, you create the perfect environment for mistakes…and HMRC doesn’t care whether it was an accident.
Inaccurate bookkeeping
Late VAT returns
Unreconciled accounts
Directors not keeping track of what they withdraw
That’s how small errors become investigations, and investigations become penalties.
So, How Do You Stay Off HMRC’s Radar?
1. Keep your accounting records up to date
You cannot make good decisions on bad numbers. And you definitely can’t defend yourself to HMRC with guesswork.
2. Understand the taxes that apply to you
Corporation Tax, VAT, payroll, dividends… directors are expected to know the basics.
3. Ask for help before something becomes a problem
Because once HMRC is asking the questions, it’s already too late to tidy up quietly.
4. Don’t ignore letters, queries or compliance checks
Silence is taken as suspicion. Always respond properly and quickly.
5. Surround yourself with professionals who actually look after you
Not the accountant who files your year-end three months late.
Not the one who replies once a week.
Not the one who “assumes it’s fine”.
Lists like this exist for a reason: to remind business owners that tax compliance is not optional and HMRC will pursue you if they believe you’ve deliberately failed to pay.
But here’s the good news…
When your numbers are clean, organised and monitored monthly, you never have to worry about ending up on a list like this.
At The Accountancy Office, this is exactly why we work the way we do. Weekly bookkeeping. Monthly reviews. Ongoing compliance checks. A finance team that spots issues long before HMRC does.
If you’re looking at this list thinking “that will never be me”… great.
If you’re looking at this list thinking “I hope that’s never me”… then you might need support.
And if you want peace of mind, accuracy and proper oversight, get in touch.