Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;…..
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads
Tomorrow we will learn if the Supreme Court decide in favour of HMRC or Rangers’ liquidator, BDO, on the Big Tax Case, which saw the former club pay dozens of players, managers, other clubs’ managers, and executives, millions of pounds through Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) without paying Income Tax.
EBTs were designed to allow employers to assist staff with crisis loans. Most organisations do this at some point. If the sum is small enough (“Here’s £20 from petty cash to put fuel in the car”), the payback period brief enough (“Here’s £500 until payday”), or the organisational oversight not too onerous (“The boss says you can have this, pay it back when you get the insurance money through”), such agreements are often informal.
If the above conditions do not apply, the employer would need to setup a Trust, whereby it could pay the loan, which would then be repaid.
Employee Benefit Trusts were not introduced as a way to allow millionaires to avoid paying the Income Tax and National Insurance but they were exploited in exactly this manner by Rangers, whose liquidators continue to spend creditors’ money to in the hope of avoiding tax which will never fully be paid from the limited Rangers’ creditors’ pot.
If BDO are successful, tomorrow you will see many poor and disadvantaged celebrate the triumph of the rich, who have reduced money available for public services, welfare payments, health, education and even defence. The pitiful will toast the pitiless. You may despair at their lack of awareness.
I hope this doesn’t happen. I hope Income Tax hasn’t been optional for the rich all these years.
If HMRC are successful, those millionaires may find themselves with demands for the payment of Income Tax. The public purse may be in line for a small windfall.
It will not have escaped your attention that, in this circumstance, Rangers used unlawful tax arrangements for many years. Arrangements that were not legally available to other clubs. We will explore this in another blog later today.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Christmas doesn’t always come; you might be onto (sugar) plumbs. Tax may be optional.
NEW CQN PODCAST WITH SFA PRESIDENT ALAN RAE OUT NOW!
Episode 2 of ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ finds Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham discussing a variety of topical subjects concerning Celtic Football Club, including:
* Callum McGregor: The Youth of Today;
* Death of the Cult Hero;
* Norwegian Wood – Ronnie Deila’s Exit Interview;
* Farewell to The Stone Roses;
* Hillsborough: The Truth.
Paul John Dykes also chats to SFA President, Alan McRae, to challenge him over recent comments made about Celtic’s domination of Scottish football.
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine or just listen using the link below…
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Celts showing up very well here playing as if we could move up a notch if required far superior to our opponents just need a goal
Celtic dominated the first 30 minutes and came close through Tom Rogic.
Prague are very keen and are taking it seriously.
Very good link for anyone who wants one, commentator me no understand mind you.
http://cricfree.sc/watch/live/slavia-prague-vs-celtic-live-streaming
Nakas
My android box is giving me no problem
FB have a few kinks up also
Aye Stephen, you get wired intae they FB kinks :-)
SOMEONE ASKED FOR DONATIONS FOR A BANNER FOR THE SUNDERLAND GAME IS THERE STILL A GIVING PAGE??
Oops Richie ☘️☘️
They nearly score twice, poor from Jozo not shutting off front post.
CQN having some timeout problems.
Anyway, a wee bit late, here is Rogic’s chance after a good run from James.
Credit the incomparable Bonfigli on the Huddle.
https://streamable.com/vjwab
KT on another level from anyone else on the pitch. Superb so far.
Dedryk down clash of knees
Boyata can’t judge angles, pace of the ball, and relative positions of opposition players. His passing does not inspire confidence and will be punished by faster opponents than Slavia Prague.
HT 0-0
Looks like DB will be unable to continue 2nd half.
Kieran is great in defence and attack.
Izzy resigning is ensuring there’s no complacency from the full back.
Let’s hope Bhoyata’s injury isn’t too bad. Good work out for the team, otherwise.
Hope it just a knock for Boyata and not a twist
Decent performance so far, dominated possession and created a few half chances. Some of the players could be doing a bit more. Interesting to hear Brendan talk about the no10 position, so much of the play goes through that area, Rogic is still a bit off it, he’s had opportunities to make a killer pass but hasn’t pulled it off.
0-0 HT ……….Very physical team Prague treating the game like a competitive match, dangerous on the break and should be ahead.
Ref was to tolerant of their clogging.
In a competitive match they would have had a few bookings.
Boyata injured by looks of it.
Some nice play by us.
One slight concern is we do not look forward enough. Few times quick forward pass was on but we seem to intent on easy possession and take the easy forward or backward pass.
Sideways or backward pass should say
BT
Yes thanks for your kind time and invaluable advice
can’t post from phone excuse delay
away again
Paul 67
You are correct, it does feel like the night before Christmas.
This is the biggie.
Been waiting for this for 5 years .
It will be a horrendous anti climax if HMRC loose.
I cannot see how that is possible.
I hope then that our club do not Dismiss their gift.
We have been cheated for years pure and simple and us, the support spent tons in a rigged game.
Surely a full revisit of LNS is a minimum and title stripping a must.
Celtic must not let us down
HH
WHATS THIS NONSENSE ABOUT ARMSTRONG???
let the children lose it
100% improvement.Well apart from Scott Sinclair.In fairness,two weeks in NY with the very fragrant Rosie will do that to you.KT ,Broony,Mc Gregor very good.Just one moan.With Boyatta taking the injury,I am baffled as to why Ajer is sitting in the commentary box.Surely this would have been a chance for the boy to show how he has come on at CH.
D’h – thought tonight’s game was a 6pm kick off.
Oh well, 2nd half will need to do me…
First game that I’ll be watching adorned in the new (birthday) away jersey;-)
JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 4TH JULY 2017 6:00 PM
WHATS THIS NONSENSE ABOUT ARMSTRONG???
—-
Offered new deal but rejected it. Talks have broken down.
Burghbhoy
I’ve given up on our board doing anything – DOS has already been accepted as being illegal and to my knowledge they’ve done nowt
JH coming on according to Celtic TV.
No not the famous Jonny Higgins from the ‘1954 double side.
Turkey
Sinclair has done ok and Ajer is injured.
TurkeyBhoy
Think he is injured because co commentator said about getting back into full training
KA has an injury.
Who started the Teasy Weasy rumour?
Burghbhoy…Celtic will let you down…well, maybe they won’t, perhaps it will be the SC who will let you down…either way, I don’t see the scum being punished. This is scotland after all…
69% possession for Celts
3 at the back?
69% possession for us.
They’ve committed 9 fouls. And the ref has been lenient.
KT centre back
Ajer said he starts full training next week.
Where is Kouassi?
Hayes gone to left FB