HMRC has brought more footballers and their agents into the net of its enquiries into allegations about potential tax abuses related to players’ image rights as part of investigations into possible tax avoidance
The score now stands at 171 probes into individual players at 44 Premier League and Football League clubs, with 31 football agents also under scrutiny.
This compares with last year’s total, when HMRC said it was making enquiries into 38 clubs, 90 players and 13 agents over claims that they had not paid the correct tax on the sale of image rights.
The football investigation has now delivered £332m in extra tax by tackling non-compliance in the football industry.
An HMRC spokesman said: 'HMRC carefully scrutinises the individual image rights arrangements between football clubs and their players to make sure the right tax is being paid in the UK.
'We are carrying out visits to every Premier League club and most football league clubs, along with their players.’
HMRC has also indicated it is tracking developments overseas, after some managers and players in the English leagues were reported to have come under investigation in their home countries for possible tax offences.
The spokesman said: 'HMRC reviews international investigations to consider any implications for UK tax, and regularly exchange information with other countries'.
Report by Pat Sweet
