The tax man cometh

[@BedfontFeltham]

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has opened a new front in the battle to collect the £32bn in tax it estimates goes unpaid in Britain every year – pursuing football coaches. HMRC has written to 3,300 coaches understood to have a Uefa level qualification – the more professional end of the game – calling on them to disclose and pay any outstanding tax or face possible criminal charges. The Football Association, which was under a legal obligation to co-operate, has supplied the names and addresses of the 3,300 licensed coaches.

 

In HMRC's letter, seen by the Guardian, the 3,300 people, which will include some well-qualified coaches working part-time at semi-professional level, up to the biggest clubs, are urged to come forward "or face more than a red card".

 

The letter suggests that some coaches, many of whom work odd hours at different clubs, are not declaring some or all of the money they make, and that tax will be owing. "I am sharing with you the fact that we have received extensive data about coaches from sources in the football community," the letter says. It calls on coaches to declare unpaid tax, "Before we complete our risk assessment of that data". HMRC warns: "We don't want to catch you offside when we risk assess our data."

 

The focus on football coaches follows similar campaigns aimed at specific occupations where HMRC believes earnings go undeclared, including doctors and dentists, plumbers and electricians. Those who come forward to declare previous earnings will have to pay the outstanding tax, any interest due if it is late, and a penalty of around 10% of the tax owing. HMRC's position is that if people do not come forward voluntarily, and are later found to have undeclared earnings and unpaid tax, they will have to pay the tax, interest, a penalty of up to 100% and face a possible criminal investigation.

 

"Most football coaches pay the tax they owe, but any coach who has not told HMRC about all of their income should do so now before we come to them," a spokesman said. "This is a chance for football coaches to get onside with their tax affairs."

 

HMRC would not say how much money its sources suggested has been paid to football coaches and not declared as income. It says its campaign to reclaim unpaid tax from a series of occupations under its "tax catch up plan" has so far yielded £547m from voluntary disclosures, and £140m claimed after investigations. Thirteen criminal investigations are under way, with five convictions secured, including a Surrey plumber sentenced to 12 months in prison in July for evading £50,000 income tax on five years working without declaring his earnings.

 

The FA at first worked with HMRC on an information initiative to encourage coaches to come forward voluntarily and disclose any tax owing. That scheme closed in the summer, then in December the FA contacted coaches again, in co-operation with HMRC, to clarify that they should disclose any tax owing.

 

HMRC clearly believes football coaching involves significant earnings, perhaps by coaches moonlighting or working at several different clubs, which are not declared. Yet the best-paid coaches with full-time jobs are unlikely to be vulnerable because they will be on salaries with the tax paid by clubs via PAYE.

 

There has been criticism of HMRC, including by the tax campaign UK Uncut, for focussing on specific occupations, some modestly paid and for relatively minor sums of money, while major multinational companies avoid what HMRC has estimated at £32bn in tax due.

[Chubby Brown]

Looks like it won't be long until they come after players too then!

[Smudge]

The HMRC do make me laugh,it is not a criminal offence not to pay tax.Typical of this Country at the moment chase the small guys,leave the big hitters alone.As long as all transactions come in little brown envelopes,where is the proof?Our men in black must be quaking in their boots,but being the honest lot they are,I am sure they declare all.

[frustin]

What about officials, the ref and linesmen.

 

Do they currently pay tax?

[HKP]

The HMRC do make me laugh,it is not a criminal offence not to pay tax.

Isn't it? Crikey no wonder the UK defecit is so large.

[Krooner]

What about officials, the ref and linesmen.

 

Do they currently pay tax?

I may be wrong but I think that all officials at Step 4 and above are advised to keep proper records and declare their earnings.  I think this is right but I am sure there are plenty better qualified on here than me to confirm.

[Big J R]

It's been common knowledge for a couple of seasons now that HMRC were going to be going after amateur football in a big way.

 

Think it'll include clubs, players, AND officials.

[Smudge]

Heard that too John,its a follow on from the great success they had at Pompey,Rangers,in collecting outstanding debts.Rumoured they are taking on 1000's of staff to investigate smaller fry,like Starbucks,Google etc.

[nut250]

Gulp

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

HMRC should go after multi nationals and millionaires who don't pay their full share, rather than pick on the small clubs and hard working people.

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

Dear Tax man.

 

I received benefits in kind on Saturday of two wagon wheels, five Bishops fingers an out of date bag of scampi fries for five hours of  weeding when dry, and bar cleaning when wet.

 

 I never touched the caramels honest.

 

Do I get a refund?

 

Yours in football,

Dax Todger,

The Home Counties,

Europe.

[VPCTFC]

HMRC should go after multi nationals and millionaires who don't pay their full share, rather than pick on the small clubs and hard working people.

 

No, HMRC should go after everyone. If everyone paid their taxes then everyone's taxes would go down.

Your Amazon's and Starbucks and the like should be boycotted but most people just spout a load of bile about how they should be paying more tax whilst continuing to buy from them.

I'm involved in collecting tax via postal packets entering the UK from outside the EU. I don't want to be a tax collector but I have no choice as Royal Mail have a legal obligation to do it. HMRC are missing out on millions of pounds every year because they rarely check goods from China, the majority of which have false declarations on the customs forms, they go for the easy targets of US and Australian goods as people in those countries rarely lie on the customs forms as they're aware of the penalties.

[Eastside Urchin]

I run a small business and they are going to town on everything.

[HKP]

HMRC should go after multi nationals and millionaires who don't pay their full share, rather than pick on the small clubs and hard working people.

But surely one of the differences here is that those multi-nationals are not breaking the Law. It's time the UK Government simplified and updated their Tax laws.

[The Mayor Of Simpleton]

I run a small business and they are going to town on everything.

 

I'm self employed and HMRC are always after more of my earnings.

 

When the likes of Heather Frost are cocking a snook at the system, it does make you wonder why you give the sods any tax at all (apart from going to jail for not paying it).

[Big J R]

Dear Tax man.

 

I received benefits in kind on Saturday of two wagon wheels, five Bishops fingers an out of date bag of scampi fries for five hours of  weeding when dry, and bar cleaning when wet.

 

 I never touched the caramels honest.

 

Do I get a refund?

 

Yours in football,

Dax Todger,

The Home Counties,

Europe.

 

 

There's a bl00dy good 'funny'  in there somewhere Jeff, but I don't want to get my botty  smacked !!

 

[duncs]

Surely all clubs have books for the Tax man to investigate any incomings and outgoings, any clubs that are operating without the proper paperwork will be subject to HMRC guesstamating as to what these clubs are taking,this will involve clubs without the correct paperwork being heavily scrutinised and could even leed to prosecutions,I say about time as money is ruining grass roots football imo.

[jertzee]

Within the game, get rid of the football creditors rule for a start.

 

I know they lost their recent ruling but it is the most bizarre ruling ever.