Gary Lineker wins appeal over £4.9m tax bill

Sports presenter Gary Lineker has won his entreaty against HMRC implicit a £4.9m taxation bill.

The UK taxation authorization pursued the prima implicit taxes connected income from some the BBC and BT Sport from 2013 to 2014 and 2017 to 2018.

Lineker presents BBC's Match of the Day and utilized to besides enactment for BT Sport.

HMRC said helium was an worker of some broadcasters but a justice has present ruled helium was a freelancer and had contracts with some broadcasters.

"The effect of my conclusions is that due to the fact that determination were nonstop contracts, betwixt the BBC and Mr Lineker and BT Sport and Mr Lineker, the intermediaries authorities (IR35) does not, and cannot arsenic a substance of law, apply," Tribunal Judge Brooks said successful a statement.

"Accordingly, and notwithstanding GLM (Gary Lineker Media) being a partnership, that is the extremity of the substance and the entreaty succeeds."

IR35 is designed to clampdown connected taxation avoidance by alleged disguised employees, who complaint for their services via constricted companies.

A spokesperson speaking for Mr Lineker said: "I americium pleased that the tribunal has confirmed that I person not failed to wage immoderate taxes oregon nationalist security by crushed of the IR35 rules."

Throughout proceedings, the presenter, 62, insisted each taxes were paid connected the income via a concern (GLM) acceptable up successful 2012 with his ex-wife Danielle Bux.

The lawsuit follows akin attempts by HMRC to people different broadcasters including Lorraine Kelly and Kaye Adams.

Earlier tribunal documents said Mr Lineker was disputing the measure and it had been agreed helium paid the income taxation successful full.

Last period Mr Lineker's lawyer James Rivett KC told a preliminary proceeding successful London that the prima had been "dragged done the papers accused of not paying income taxation which has been paid", and claimed determination was a governmental constituent to the investigations.

Following the ruling an HMRC spokesperson said: "The tribunal has confirmed the off-payroll rules use to partnerships, arsenic we person ever said.

"However, we bash not hold with its determination that the rules cannot use successful this lawsuit and we're considering an appeal.

"It is our work to guarantee everyone pays the close taxation nether the law, careless of wealthiness oregon status."

HMRC has 56 days to entreaty to the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber).

Lineker deed the headlines earlier this period erstwhile helium was taken disconnected aerial by the BBC implicit a tweet criticising authorities asylum policy.

He aboriginal returned to Match of the Day aft the BBC's manager wide Tim Davie said an autarkic reappraisal of societal media guidelines would beryllium carried out.

Mr Davie denied accusations that the BBC had backed down.

Lineker, a erstwhile England striker who besides played for teams including Everton, Leicester, Tottenham and Barcelona, has hosted Match of the Day since 1999.

He is the BBC's highest paid star, having earned astir £1.35m successful 2020-21.