Rangers’ tax worries have moved from the message boards and blogs into the mainstream media following the visit to Ibrox yesterday of Sheriff Officers.
During Craig Whyte’s takeover from Sir David Murray a tax bill of £2.8m was uncovered which almost derailed Whyte’s bid before the £1 takeover was completed.
News of a penalty attached to that £2.8m bill, which is separate to another much larger tax issue relating to Employee Benefits Trust, seems to have caught Rangers unaware with claims that they are disputing the £1.4m penalty attached to the tax bill.
There were predictable sound bites of reassurance from the on-message BBC yesterday afternoon but the sight of Sheriff Officers walking along Edmiston Drive prompted the Herald to dig a bit deeper into what was happening.
The Sun latched on dramatically to the story leading with: “DEBT collectors swooped on Rangers over a £2.8million tax bill yesterday – just 48 hours after club bosses rubbished claims they were set to descend on Ibrox.
“Gers chiefs issued a string of strenuous denials on Monday when quizzed about the legal move.
“Top men at the club went to great lengths to dismiss the claims, branding them “completely inaccurate and untrue”.
“But yesterday two sheriff officers, ordered by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, turned up at Ibrox to demand payment over the tax debt.
“And bosses only admitted the humiliating showdown after our reporter watched the suited men walk through the historic doors of the crisis-hit club.”
Speaking to a taxation expert the Herald was told: “This is quite a significant development and an extreme measure for HMRC to send sheriff officers. It’s always the stage before taking court proceedings and seeking a winding up order for outstanding debts.
“It’s not something that happens to HMRC clients every day to have sheriff officers at the door and is a clear indication of the seriousness with which HMRC is taking the matter.
“They are not there to negotiate. They arrive to tell you how monies will be collected and their use today suggests a breakdown in communication between the parties involved.”
Another tax expert warned the Herald: “When a third party is dispatched it will always come with a warning of what follows if the debts are unpaid but there is still scope for a resolution.”
While confirming the story rather than getting the views of tax experts on the matter, the Daily Record spoke to two Rangers supporters representatives who believed that the visit from Sheriff Officers was an act of grandstanding by HMRC.
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Hilarious. Maybe they should have a charity leg-ends match. With the 50 fans that turn up they can get a whip round going.
Only 50 as a) they are tight b**tards and b) the rest of them are busy looting and rioting in London. Hail Hail
Nah Mike, that’s Chelsea fans rioting don’t you know. Rangers and their followers are the peepel and never do anything wrong, well, if they do it was us Feenyin bassas that made them do it.
Utterly hilarious, the queens XI being humiliated for not paying taxes to HM. Is this the actions of the quintessentially British club?
How can their most rabid, anglified, forelock-tugging supporters look themselves in the mirror now?
Craig Whyte is a legned.