Seems that the current Highland management ploy is to blame HMRC for being unreasonable and ultimately responsible for their plight
Now I’m no fan of the taxman, and, for the sake of crew and staff at Highland, would love to see a successful outcome, but one has to ask:
If Highland owes HMRC nearly £500k…are they viable in their present form?
That will be cash deducted from salaries in the shape of PAYE etc and VAT on VAT able charters and contracts. That’s money (our money), they have had the use of, and owe fair and square. It’s not some unfair tax on profit…there is none!!
Highland has had a shed load of financial support from HIE etc and management have simply got it wrong.
For HMRC to let them build up debt of that magnitude is not them being 'unreasonable' as suggested…I would argue that HMRC have been a bit too fee and easy with our money!
Lets hope for all concerned that the business can be put back on a stable footing, but is ACS a solution?
Good luck to crew and staff