PDC darts star Rob Cross given five-year ban after 2018 world champ failed to pay £450k

Wales Online

06-06-2025

PDC darts star Rob Cross given five-year ban after 2018 world champ failed to pay £450k
Rob Cross, who won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2018, has been banned as a director for five years after his company went into liquidation with a huge tax debt
Rob Cross has been with a ban from being a director
(Image: 2024 Getty Images )
Ex-world darts champion Rob Cross has been disqualified from serving as a director for five years following his company's inability to clear a substantial tax bill.
Rob Cross Darts Limited was in debt to HMRC and other creditors to the tune of £450,000 when it was liquidated. Cross is now prohibited from taking on any directorial roles until June 2030.
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Established eight years prior to manage his earnings and prize money, his company fell into financial trouble. From March 2020 to November 2023, Cross extracted over £300,000 from the firm in what were funds that were due to HMRC and other creditors.
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Last year, the 34-year-old – who won the World Darts Championship back in 2018 – entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) in hopes of repaying some of the debt. The payments Cross makes under the IVA will fluctuate based on his future darts income.
By November 2023, when the company was dissolved, it had accrued debts including £403,896 in corporation tax, £49,071 in VAT, and £12,436 in PAYE and National Insurance contributions, having only paid HMRC £41,936 since March 2020, reports the Express.
Cross admitted that his withdrawal of £306,403 from the company was "to the risk and ultimate detriment of HMRC."
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Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: "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.
"Rob Cross's company owed more than £400,000 in corporation tax alone when it went into liquidation. For more than three years, he withdrew funds from the company, which should have gone to HMRC and other creditors.
Rob Cross (right) was part of this year's Premier League Darts line-up
(Image: Getty )
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"This case demonstrates that we will pursue action against directors who deprive the public purse of much-needed funds.
"The rules apply equally to everyone in business, and we expect all company directors to comply with their legal responsibilities.
"Enforcing these rules consistently is crucial in maintaining a level playing field and preventing companies from gaining an unfair competitive advantage over compliant businesses that properly fulfil their tax obligations."
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May 2017 saw the inception of Rob Cross Darts Limited, with Cross appointed as director on the founding day. According to the Insolvency Service's probe, from March 2020 until its liquidation in November 2023, the enterprise accrued slightly over £1 million via Cross's darts winnings.
Sponsorships contributed £169,500, while £261,901 flowed in from his management outfit. Besides the £306,403 Cross withdrew himself, an additional £665,419 was transferred to a close associate's personal bank account – whether this was Cross remains undisclosed.
His banishment from corporate involvement – be it in directing, forming or promoting any business – stands unless he secures court approval.