Newcastle United £1.2m fine made public after HMRC investigation
Newcastle United have received a penalty charge from HM Revenue and Customs for defaulting on tax payments between 2010 and 2016.
Newcastle United have been fined by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after defaulting on tax payments between 2010 and 2016.
The Magpies, plus more than 150 individuals and businesses, have been publicly named by HMRC for defaulting on tax for the six-year period during which Mike Ashley was still the owner of the football club.
Newcastle defaulted £1,922,960.60 in tax between April 6, 2010 and April 5, 2016 and were handed a penalty charge of £1,249,742.79 as a result, but have since satisfactorily resolved the matter with HMRC.
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It is, however, understood that this relates to the incident back in April 2017 when HMRC raided offices at St James’ Park and West Ham United as part of an investigation into suspected criminal tax fraud in professional football in England and France. Former Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley was arrested but later released without charge.
The criminal investigation was later dropped in May 2021. Charnley left Newcastle a few months later, coinciding with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia’s £305million takeover.
A HMRC statement read: “More than 150 individuals and businesses have been named today (25 June) for deliberately defaulting on tax, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issuing penalties in each case.
“Several are high street businesses such as takeaways, convenience stores and vape shops. In every case, those named deliberately failed to pay at least £25,000 in tax and did not make a full disclosure when HMRC began its investigation – a step that would have kept their details off the list.
“The list covers civil penalties only and does not include criminal convictions for tax fraud. Details remain published for 12 months.
“The full list of those named today can be found as a downloadable spreadsheet on GOV.UK.”