UK tax collector HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has recovered £396m ($507.8m, €455.6m) from tax investigations into the world of football, according to a freedom of information request by the BBC.
The FOI data, as seen by International Adviser, shows HMRC had investigated 330 players, 55 clubs and 80 agents, by the end of the third quarter of tax year 2019/20.
This is a rise from the end of Q2 2019/20, where HMRC had looked at 223 players, 49 clubs and 62 agents.
Since 2015, the UK coffers have benefitted to the tune of nearly £400m.
An HMRC spokesperson said in statement: “We’re clear that everyone must pay what they owe under the law – regardless of their wealth or status.
“The department’s work in the football industry is a demonstration of this ongoing effort and we look forward to continued co-operation with clubs and players throughout 2020.”
Historical events
The UK tax collector has been battling with financial issues inside the sport for a long while; and, in 2017, HMRC launched a football compliance programme to focus on tax avoidance.
It has tried to battle tax incentive schemes, which have involved a number of ex-footballers and managers.
Recently, a bid by former Premier League players Anthony Barness, Kevin Campbell, Danny Murphy and Gary Teale to recoup some of their losses linked to a film financing company was quashed by the high court.
In November 2019, a UK high court ruled in favour of nearly 700 investors who put around £79m towards the building of data centres in the north of England.
British footballer Wayne Rooney and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger were among the 675 investors.
Agent
In 2018, former top football agent Jerome Anderson, who had players on his books from Arsenal, Chelsea FC and Blackburn Rovers, lost his £1.2m tax battle with HMRC.
The case, heard at the Upper Tribunal, found Anderson and eight others had failed in their attempt to avoid “large amounts” of tax through investing in a football academy in South Africa.
Anderson represented more than 200 players, and introduced the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Uwe Rosler to the Premier League.
