Rangers FC tax probe gains momentum
Scottish football club defends payment structures against HMRC tax tribunal
HMRC HAS HAULED Rangers FC into court over an estimated unpaid bill of £24m.
The club has been in talks with HM Revenue & Customs for several weeks as the Scottish side’s payment structures were investigated.
It is believed that, between 1993–2003, Rangers paid its players through an Employment Benefit Trust (EBT) rather than PAYE. The EBT allowed players to take advantage of lower corporation tax requirements compared to employment rates.
Rangers FC has recruited Andrew Thornhill, a leading tax barrister, to defend it. He will argue that the EBT structure was used by various other clubs, Scotland’s Evening Times reports.
The tax tribunal in Edinburgh is expected to last six weeks.