A businessman publicly named by the government as a 'tax defaulter' says he intends to pay back every penny and simply got behind with HMRC paperwork after health issues.

Haroon Sheikh Latif owns the Shakeeys takeaway building in Angel Street, which is run by his brother Aftab (known as Shakeey), and several properties.

Haroon Sheikh Latif said he and his wife had already paid back £40,000 of the money to HMRC as they tried to clear the debt.

Mr Latif, of Harkaway, Whittington, who says he is now retired, owes £28,494 and his wife, Surriaya Latif, £51,650 (total amount of tax/duty on which penalties are based).

Their names appeared on a list of 'deliberate defaulters' published by the HMRC.

HMRC’s Publishing Details of Deliberate Defaulters (PDDD) scheme provides information about people and businesses given financial penalties for failing to comply with tax obligations or deliberately filing errors in tax returns.

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Mr Latif said the family had been attempting to sell a couple of properties, which would have provided a lump sum, but 'they did not go through on time'.

He explained his solicitors had last week applied for a 12-week adjournment in order to clear the debt but was told by HMRC that, though they would not contest the application, granting it was at the judge's discretion.

"I'm not a deliberate defaulter. I have five or six properties in the solicitor's hands. I've worked very hard."

The 68-year-old, who suffers from heart problems and diabetes, comes originally from Lahore in Pakistan and has worked in Saudi Arabia and the USA before coming to the UK. He suffered a heart attack at 31 but 'still chose to work'.

Mr Latif began by working in a grocery store in Bath Road (Timberdine Stores) before diversifying into property.

He said: "I was behind opening mail. Why are they trying to do this when I'm telling them I'm going to pay? I've had a lot of health issues. I can't sleep at night because of so much stress.

"I'm going to pay each and every penny. Why be so aggressive? Give me a chance. They should be easy on me. They are trying to punish me for something which was not purposefully done. I was catching up with my paperwork and I got behind because of my health."

He added: "In four months I lost two brothers and I have also lost my brother-in-law. I never claimed a penny in this country. I have been self-employed since day one - since 1989, that's when I came here. I have paid a lot into the system."

He said his accounts were now up-to-date as far as 2022 and his wife had one or two that were outstanding but that the amount left to pay was likely to be higher than that published by HMRC.

The default period for Mr Latif was between April 6, 2015 and April 5, 2018. The period for Mrs Latif is recorded as between April 6, 2016 and April 5, 2019.  HMRC have ordered Mr Latif to pay £11,468 in penalties and his wife £29,698. Both were added to the list of defaulters on June 15 last year with their business recorded as 'income from property'.

Details are published when a person or business has made at least one deliberate default on more than £25,000, according to HMRC.

The list is updated every three months and the information wiped after a year.