Sky Sports pundit Stuart Barnes ordered to pay 'huge' six figure unpaid tax bill

Friday, 30 August 2024 at 20:37

byRugby Rucker

Sky Sports rugby pundit Stuart Barnes has been ordered to pay £700,000 after a tribunal found that he underpaid tax over a six-year period.

Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) claimed that Mr Barnes, widely known as "the voice of rugby," evaded tax payments between 2013 and 2019 while working as a freelancer for Sky TV.

The former professional rugby player had previously won a legal case against HMRC last year at the First Tier Tribunal, which initially allowed him to avoid a £695,000 tax bill.

Watt Busfield Tax Investigations LLP

@rbusfield

·Follow

‘The #StuartBarnes case was a close call that could have gone either way...#HMRC’s 1st ground of appeal failed…however HMRC's 2nd ground of appeal...did succeed. The surprising element was that the UT chose to interfere with the...decision by a First Tier Tribunal' #tax #rugby

Business & Accountancy Daily

@accountancylive

Sky rugby commentator Stuart Barnes loses £695k IR35 case - Upper Tribunal overturned FTT as 'relationship under hypothetical contract one of employment…evaluation of all relevant admissible factors required at Third RMC Stage leads us to conclude that' accountancydaily.co/sky-rugby-comm…

12:28 PM · Aug 30, 2024

Read 1 reply

However, HMRC successfully appealed this decision, and the Upper Tribunal reversed the original verdict on Thursday.

According to The Telegraph, the latest ruling determined that Barnes should have been paying employment tax during his six years at the broadcaster.

Jonny Wilkinson and Johnny Sexton feature on rugby’s ultimate rich list for 2024

The rugby world isn't just about breathtaking tries and fierce tackles; it's also a realm where fortunes are made. Here's the lowdown on the top six wealthiest rugby stars right now:

6. Johnny Sexton - £3.16m

Legendary kicker has been around the game for years before hanging up his boots following the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Trading his jersey for a business suit, the ex-fly-half has taken on the role of commercial manager at Ardagh Group, a powerhouse in the glass and metal industry headquartered in Luxembourg.

Ardagh Group boasts a global footprint as a leading provider of sustainable metal and glass packaging, boasting a sprawling network of 63 production facilities, a workforce of 20,000, and a jaw-dropping revenue exceeding £7.2 billion.

Johnny Sexton, Captain of Ireland is interviewed during the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Media Launch at County Hall, Lambeth, London on Monday 23rd January 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

5. Mike Tindall - £9.98 million

A member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, Mike Tindall has had his fair share of off-field challenges. Despite legal troubles, his net worth stands at an impressive £9.98 million.

4. Jonny Wilkinson - £20.9 million

Jonny Wilkinson's iconic Rugby World Cup-winning drop goal in 2003 has translated into substantial wealth. As the second-richest Rugby World Cup winner, Wilkinson's financial success is a testament to his on-field brilliance.

3. Sonny Bill Williams - £21.8 million

A dual-sport star in Union and League, Sonny Bill Williams, made waves in endorsements and earned well during his stint in France. His net worth stands at an impressive £21.8 million.

2. Sir Bill Gammell - £38.8 million

Former Scottish rugby player turned businessman, Sir Bill Gammell, is a knight, philanthropist, and a friend to political leaders. With a net worth exceeding £38.8 million, Gammell is poised for success even beyond the rugby pitch.

1. Simon McDowell - £39.3 million

Refereeing at two Rugby World Cups, Simon McDowell's journey from player to referee has been financially rewarding. His net worth, driven primarily by his chemical company Kilwaughter, exceeds an impressive £39.3 million.

The current 36-man British & Irish Lions squad for 2025, according to the bookies

We found it intriguing to project a smaller squad based on the favored contenders according to bookmakers' odds as of April19, 2024.

The Lions will play a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV as part of their nine-match tour down under in 2025.

The historic fixture in Adelaide will precede Test matches with the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Jamie Phillips

@JNPhillips4

·Follow

Don’t think many people will have doubts about Andy Farrell being named British and Irish Lions head coach. He’s earned it. Looking forward to all the petty squabbling over squad selection on here in 2025. If this wretched app still exists by then… #Lions2025 🦁