HMRC liquidates care home company over debts

The firm operates a number of health and care services on the Wirral, including care homes in Hoylake, Prenton and Birkenhead

A Merseyside care home firm is to be liquidated after being taken to court by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Brighter Bloom Healthcare Group, which, runs a number of health and care services on the Wirral, owes more than 472,000 to the taxman.

It also owes just under £80,000 to British Gas and more than £91,000 to care home agency company Love to Care.

The company's director, Thomas Donohue, said HMRC had rejected an arrangement that could have seen it paid the money in favour of "writing off" the debt through winding up the company.

The company had more than 40 residents paid for by Wirral Council, and one paid for by Rochdale Council, with 52 full-time staff and 60 agency staff.

Brighter Bloom director, Thomas Donohue, said the deal his firm put forward would have eventually "provided a pay-out of 100% of the debt" and accused HMRC of "jeopardising the homes of residents."

But HMRC said it had filed the winding-up petition to "protect tax payers money."

"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," a spokesperson said.

County Court Judgments

Before starting Brighter Bloom, Companies House suggests at least six companies linked with Mr Donohue all opened and closed within a short period of time.

A similarly named company called Brighter Bloom Healthcare Group (Northwest) Ltd was set up in April and still remains active.

However, company lawyer Peter Sealey previously said this new firm was "part of a planned reorganisation in line with addressing HMRC's management concerns".

A Trust Online search carried out by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in May also found the company has had nine county court judgments, which are court orders requiring someone to pay a debt.

Six are said to remain unsatisfied.

Mr Sealey said documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service "were accurate and negotiations were ongoing behind the scenes".

At the hearing on Wednesday, he said: "We will be submitting a revised proposal to deal with the managerial concerns that HMRC have expressed and ensured the interests of the residents are put to the forefront."

Brighter Bloom was approached for comment on its next steps.

A Wirral Council spokesperson said the authority "will follow its contractual terms" following the winding-up notice.