London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 29, 2025

UK tax authorities triple probes of footballers

UK tax authorities triple probes of footballers

HMRC opened 246 investigations, with payments for image rights under scrutiny
The UK tax authority has tripled the number of investigations into professional footballers, opening 246 investigations in the year to March 2020, up from 87 the prior year.

HM Revenue & Customs also opened 25 cases into clubs and 55 cases involving the footballers’ agents who typically guide players through transfers and finances, according to data made available following a freedom of information request by accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.

HMRC clawed back more than £73m from its investigations into the football industry, more than doubling the amount gained the prior year.

The tax authority’s pursuit of footballers and their agents comes amid a broader clampdown on aggressive tax approaches adopted by the wealthy, particularly after the Panama Papers leak in 2016, which exposed the concealment of assets offshore.

“We’re clear that everyone must pay what they owe under the law — regardless of their wealth, status or job. The department’s work in the football industry is a demonstration of this ongoing effort to help support the football industry and their members,” said HMRC.

Manchester United said in January it was in “active discussions” with UK tax authorities over “arrangements with players and player representatives”. It repeated the language in its latest results, published in June.

HMRC won a case last year against Hull City over image rights payments of £440,800 made to an offshore company connected to footballer Geovanni Gomez between December 2008 and July 2010.

While the image of elite players can be harnessed by their clubs to great effect — and for legitimate purposes — in advertising and endorsements, questions can be raised when lesser-known players rely on them for a significant portion of their income.

Companies established by players can then receive image rights payments, which are then taxed at 19 per cent, the level at which corporation tax is set in the UK. By contrast, high earners, including many footballers, would pay income tax at the so-called additional rate of 45 per cent for earnings over £150,000.

“For a young footballer who is unlikely to know a great deal about tax compliance, the choice between paying 19 per cent and 45 per cent in tax can seem like a very easy one,” said Elliott Buss, partner at UHY Hacker Young.

But he said “HMRC believes that lots of lesser-known footballers are effectively avoiding tax by getting paid huge sums for image rights that HMRC views as overpriced”.

Footballers’ agents, who collect millions of pounds in commission for representing players in contract negotiations and transfers between clubs, are also under scrutiny. HMRC’s focus is on instances where fees paid by players to agents who advise on their transfers are not declared properly.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
×