Fayed's tax status in jeopardy
Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed will take a battle with the Inland Revenue to the House of Lords, after a Scottish court ruling last week threw out his appeal against the removal of his special tax status.
Link: Harrods’ boss loses tax appeal (
A spokesman for the Egyptian-born tycoon said that the decision by the Court of Session in Edinburgh could have ‘huge ramifications’ for tax payers who enter into agreements with the tax man. ‘Mr Fayed always thought the action the Inland Revenue took was wrong and that he was singled out,’ said the spokesman. ‘He told me this could seriously damage the economy and turn away wealthy investors.’
But the Revenue was adamant: ‘We entered into an agreement in good faith, which we later recognised was inappropriate,’ a spokesman said.
Under that agreement, drawn up in 1997, Al Fayed paid just £240,000 in tax a year.