MC. A lot of your points ring true especially the abusive payment terms. I've certainly come across businesses where the owners are bleeding their company dry knowing that the unsecured creditors will take the hit if their company collapses.
Regarding your payment of Corporation Tax;
Did you look at your specific provisioning when considering your final figures (where your taxable profits derive from). Provide for a bonus for yourself (or your wife) ? Perhaps you know you have taxable losses coming up to set against prior year profits. The virus is going to lead to some huge tax losses and repayment of prior year CT on profits.
I’m going back a bit now but it was split between me and the missus as far as I can recall? It all got a bit technical for me tbh, just took the advice of the bean counter. Of course it all went out the window when I moved here, all the UK stuff is taxed as overseas income under ATO rules. With regards to the other stuff, it’s long overdue with regards to sorting out these c***s. It’s frankly a scandal that they are allowed to get away with it? Unfortunately I have seen far too many decent people lose everything at the hands of these individuals. Problem is you get these types in every society, it’s simply a failure of government that allows it to continue. I’m afraid when it comes to running a business the UK government in my experience is shockingly inadequate, and that’s across the political divide irrespective of who’s in power.