Newcastle & West Ham raided for Tax fraud.

[Rams4Justice]

Well we all know that Mike Ashley is a dodgy businessmen as he has already been under investigation once before about how he treats his Sports Direct Staff in the East Midland's area, for not paying them and working under bad conditions.

West Ham on the other hand might have something to do with their move to their new Olympic stadium.

[roger_ramjet]

The interesting element to me is that it involves both tax and National Insurance. This points very strongly towards it relating to the way players or agents are remunerated as opposed to corporate issues.

Im not sure to what extent players classify themselves as self employed or are employed through service companies, or indeed incorporate themselves, but this could well be linked into the current IR35 clampdown.

Raids also took place in France which is initially puzzling as France is hardly a low tax environment - I remember french football clubs threatening to strike over 75% top rate tax 4 or 5 years ago. Its possible that this could be related to Fench tax authorities but the inclusion of NI rather suggests not.

[Rams4Justice]

They have taken classified documents from the respective clubs and are undergoing thorough investigation to resolve the problem, just like they did at the FIFA headquarters regarding Sebb Blatter & Michel Platini regarding the corruption.

[Andy_Faber]

issues.

Im not sure to what extent players classify themselves as self employed or are employed through service companies, or indeed incorporate themselves, but this could well be linked into the current IR35 clampdown.

Very likely, you can bet that player and agents alike will be looking to stretch things as far as possible to maximise net income. the more they get, the more they'll want to hold onto. Maybe NUFC WON'T be playing prem football next year?

[Rams4Justice]

Several men have also been arrested as well, while the investigation gets fully underway into the tax fraud allegations.

[roger_ramjet]

Very likely, you can bet that player and agents alike will be looking to stretch things as far as possible to maximise net income. the more they get, the more they'll want to hold onto. Maybe NUFC WON'T be playing prem football next year?

Also there could have been some interesting possiblities to pay lower player salaries but to enhance income from the sale of image rights and similar things. The latter might fall outside the scope of NI and could be embedded in a separate company thus attracting tax at 20% rather than 45% in the short term. Fascinating to see what they finally reveal.

[Ram59]

Both clubs have had French players recently, maybe the investigation relates to how they were paid. But that seems quite minor when you realise how many investigators are involved.

[finse]

The interesting element to me is that it involves both tax and National Insurance. This points very strongly towards it relating to the way players or agents are remunerated as opposed to corporate issues.

Im not sure to what extent players classify themselves as self employed or are employed through service companies, or indeed incorporate themselves, but this could well be linked into the current IR35 clampdown.

Raids also took place in France which is initially puzzling as France is hardly a low tax environment - I remember french football clubs threatening to strike over 75% top rate tax 4 or 5 years ago. Its possible that this could be related to Fench tax authorities but the inclusion of NI rather suggests not.

I wonder if this is similar to the tax avoidance schemes adopted by Gary Lineker and Steve Redgrave which were about to be looked into by HMRC. It's was said at the time that it was only the tip of the iceberg.

[Andy_Faber]

Both clubs have had French players recently, maybe the investigation relates to how they were paid. But that seems quite minor when you realise how many investigators are involved.

I understand the investigation is into 'phantom payments' made to people who never actually carried out the duties for which they were paid. First port of call: McLaren, S.

[Rams4Justice]

That Sam Allardyce incident that cost him the England job, due to using it to negotiate a £400,000 deal for telling businessmen how they can get around FA rules of player's transfers.