A Norfolk estate agency is being taken to the High Court by HMRC over its alleged tax debts.
S&W Sales Ltd, trading as Starkings & Watson, was due in court on Wednesday after the tax authority filed a petition to wind up the company for debts it claims to be owed.
However, the hearing was adjourned to September 23.
Chris Starkings, managing director of the firm, said the company continues to trade.
A HMRC spokesman said: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money.”
It is not the first time that the tax office has sought to wind up a company associated with Starkings & Watson.
In October 2024, SWEA Ltd – one of several similarly named companies controlled by Mr Starkings - was ordered to be wound up by the High Court over tax debts owed to HMRC.
SWEA Ltd was also handed a penalty for illegally underpaying workers below the minimum wage, failing to pay a total of £1,357.23 to six workers.
It was one of 389 UK employers named by the government for failing to pay the minimum wage.
The level of the fine has not been revealed.
Mr Starkings did not respond when approached for comment after the government published the list in March this year.
However, he later issued a statement on Starkings & Watson’s Facebook page, which said: “In 2023, a historic payroll error occurred relating to staff pay, totalling £201.23.
“This was immediately corrected, and steps were taken to strengthen our systems and processes to ensure full compliance going forward.
“This matter is behind us, and it does not reflect the way Starkings & Watson operates today.”
S&W Sales Ltd and another separate company, S&W Lettings Ltd, are both listed on the firm’s website as trading as Starkings & Watson.
Mr Starkings is also a director of several other similarly named companies, including SW Brundall Ltd, SW Bungay Ltd, SW Costessey Ltd, SW Diss Ltd, SW Poringland Ltd, according to Companies House filings.
The names of these companies were all changed on June 23 this year.
Starkings & Watson has offices across Norfolk and Suffolk, in Brundall, Bungay, Costessey, Diss, Loddon, Poringland and Wymondham.
Share