March 28, (THEWILL) – Gary Lineker, the well-known sports presenter, who fronts the BBC’s Match of the Day program, has successfully appealed against a £4.9 million tax bill issued by the UK’s tax authority, HMRC.
The bill related to income tax owed on payments received by Lineker for his work on both the BBC and BT Sport between 2013 and 2018. The HMRC had argued that Lineker was an employee of both broadcasters, but the presenter disputed this, claiming he was a freelancer.
The judge agreed with Lineker, ruling that he was not subject to the IR35 intermediaries legislation. As a result, Lineker’s appeal was successful, and he will not have to pay the tax bill.
Lineker expressed his satisfaction with the verdict on Twitter, saying he was “pleased that the Tribunal has endorsed my contention that I have not failed to pay any taxes or National Insurance by reason of the IR35 rules.”
The ruling is a significant victory for the presenter and will likely have ramifications for other high-profile figures in the industry.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
