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Meg Hillier Demands HMRC Response to City Findings

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 2:34 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Treasury chair Meg Hillier wrote to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) seeking response to the Manchester City report.
The commission found Manchester City committed over 100 breaches and used sham contracts to inflate revenue by more than £900 million.
Tax experts estimate the scheme left about £12 million of PAYE and National Insurance unpaid.
Manchester City denied wrongdoing, called the findings erroneous, and will appeal by Friday 2 October.

History

Historical Context

In 2005, Manchester United faced a landmark tax dispute over player image-right payments, culminating in a £30 million settlement in 2007. HMRC, the Treasury’s tax policy unit, and the Premier League jointly audited the club, finding that 12 % of reported revenues were artificially inflated. Today, Treasury chair Meg Hillier’s letter to HMRC echoes that earlier probe, as Manchester City is accused of using sham contracts to overstate revenue by £900 million. The precedent suggests that authorities will pursue further recoveries, potentially reclaiming tens of millions in unpaid PAYE and National Insurance from football clubs.

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Story summary

Treasury chair Meg Hillier wrote to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) seeking response to the Manchester City report.
The commission found Manchester City committed over 100 breaches and used sham contracts to inflate revenue by more than £900 million.
Tax experts estimate the scheme left about £12 million of PAYE and National Insurance unpaid.
Manchester City denied wrongdoing, called the findings erroneous, and will appeal by Friday 2 October.

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