The Chief Executive of HMRC, Jim Harra, has sent an open letter to Magnus Llwellin accusing him of ‘inaccurate and partial reporting’ over the EBT bill of the Rangers club currently in liquidation.
The broadsheet has taken it’s lead from the most fanatical of message-boards to fuel the great conspiracy theories that have raged since 2012.
Rather than examine the irresponsible actions of Dave Murray and Craig Whyte it seems that the vast bulk of Ibrox fans suspect that a secret Vatican plot was behind the demise of their club with branches reaching into local and national government inspired by rabid Rangers-haters.
The truth is a little simpler; once Celtic became competitive with a 60,000-seater stadium they were able to generate more income. With their superiority complex under threat Murray turned to tax scams before handing the ailing club over to Whyte as a succession of wealthy blue nose businessmen refused to throw away their fortunes.
Highly creative tax policies became the norm once the elastic overdraft facility from Murray’s friends at the Bank of Scotland was cut adrift by HBOS and Lloyds TSB.
When Ally McCoist failed to deliver Champions League football in 2011 it was only a matter of time before the money ran out with the club withholding National Insurance and Income Tax for five months before they were taken to the High Court.
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Llwellin and others know the real story and refuse to publish a word against Murray. With the new club facing some very serious, and potentially fatal challenges, it is easier and more comforting to return to the conspiracy theories with HMRC hitting back today.
Chief Executive Harra stated: “I am writing in relation to your coverage of Rangers’ tax affairs on 14th November 2019.
“The article is incorrect: HMRC did not make any mistakes that led to the club’s insolvency. HMRC won again Rangers’ tax avoidance in the Supreme Court. We have a long-standing claim with the liquidators to recover the money due as a result of this judgement.
“The United Kingdom has one of the lowest rates of unpaid tax anywhere in the world. Inaccurate and partial reporting only serves to undermine the public trust in the tax system.
“HMRC is committed to getting tax right, for everyone – and to challenge tax avoidance wherever we find it. We make sure large business, like all other taxpayers, pay the taxes due under UK law.”
Rangers went into liquidation in 2012, The Supreme Court found in favour of HMRC in 2017 that the club had used £47m as disguised remuneration to players, coaches and directors.
