This morning the Daily Record led with a front page headline “Celtic and the tax dodge firm”. They went on, “Celtic supremo Peter Lawwell and other club figures have been linked to a £434million tax dodge”, linking Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon and a number of players from the O’Neill era.
Let’s be clear on the facts of this case:
Celtic employees (they did speak to each other) took advice from one of the big four accountancy firms and made arrangements accordingly.
Each of these employees declared these arrangements to HMRC.
HMRC informed them that these ‘investments’ were not offset-able against tax.
All Celtic and former Celtic staff settled this issue with HMRC years ago.
This was reported in 2012 (a cursory internet search will confirm). Nothing new has happened to any Celtic or former Celtic employee since. No Celtic or former Celtic employee is involved in any on-going related issues.
Celtic pay employees through income declared to HMRC. Tax was and is deducted at source and paid to HMRC – including the matter referred to today. They even asked HMRC if tax was due on Juninho’s EBT and paid by return when told it was.
There are no hidden tax schemes at Celtic. There are no side-letter arrangements at Celtic nor has there ever been. There are no disputes with HMRC.
The newspaper headline is misleading; “Celtic and the fax dodge firm”. There is not once piece of correspondence between Celtic and HMRC or any other body on this matter. Celtic deducted and paid tax to HMRC which their employees subsequently applied for relief against. HMRC have not demanded any connected payment from Celtic, nor is any due.
They can pick on Peter Lawwell, Martin O’Neill and Neil Lennon if that is their motivation (their hostility to each of them has been clear for years), but headlines putting the words “Celtic” and “tax dodge” are designed to damage your club. This is unacceptable.
The bigger question is “Why?”
It’s a tax issue reported years ago which nothing will subsequently happen about because nothing is in dispute by any of the parties concerned. So why make it a front page story now?
That remains a mystery for the time being, but know how ‘news’ works in Scotland, and more importantly, know who instructs what makes the news. This has all the hallmarks of a deflection piece before something bigger hits the fan. Someone is panicking.
The issue remains what do Celtic do about this kind of media distortion. Some newspapers are under so much financial pressure they live for tomorrow’s headline, accountability is a luxury they cannot afford to think about. They do not appear concerned at biting the hand that feeds them.
One (good) news journalist I know told me the football guys keep his ‘paper afloat, as no one would buy to read his (worthy) submissions. Football is the last gig in town for the old media. As a consequence, your club will be savaged at any opportune moment, with or without just cause.
393 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
Contrast and compare SKY version of Jubba being hut to STV level fived Jabba hitting.
MWD
Barcelona is owned by the fans you workshy pie eating fukwit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8x_59EjZOs
Still funny and becoming appropriate again
Hee hee………………………..the guy who produced this deserves the same plaudits a Billy NoWell
Celtic Hero’s
HT, sorry to hear about your sad news. Condolences to the Minx and you.
Charlie Finlay RIP.
Last time i looked at the front page of the Daily Record, it had Wednesday 23rd May 2001 written at the top of the page….i had to check my phone just to make sure they got it right.
Morning all.
My last day in the not so wilds of Borneo. Thank God for air con. Too too hot for an OAP like me. Sill, I have got to see that big yellow ball in the sky every day for 2 whole weeks!! All told, it has been great being back.
Hopefully,I will be back in Glasgow in time for the game on Saturday, if I recover from the jet lag.
durty huns: A shortpoem by acgr. Ahem
Durty huns
Up to no good, die die die,
Dead and in the ground,
I’m sound…………………………..:_)
Poetry in motion. Can I get an award, shoooooorly
Award……pick any ward you like !!! Forfar Infirmary
Kissy kissy ….a ken the ambulance driver..
HT…condolences to the Findlay family……
Braw.
H/T,
Sorry to hear of the Minx and your loss. Looking forward to similiar conversations with my old Dad when I get home.
May he rest in peace.
NB, fanx bruv I feel like a winner with your endorsement, it wont go to ma heid though, I’ll remember the links and a proper sausages.
Edzel is 20 quid a go just now anaw so I might just pop over there next week wi ma sclaff bats.
Did you mail me ya loon?
did you
did you
did you
Please do bruv
Hail Hail Celtic Men and Wumin
ACGR.
I always think of yer mum….and the pram…and being a braw lad…I think on Luke 19-27
Braw….
The end is naughty….it should never end….!!!
Braw
Carnoustie loon ….email …can we go through BurgasHoops…
Forgive my eegnorance ….
I love ya…
Let’s give these/new scooter bhoys broom !!!!
Vambo
Braw
I saw earlier some mention of the DR suggesting that some Celtic employees were in trouble with the tax authorities. There seemed to be the distinct possibility that this was to deflect from major problems looming down Govan way. Have there been any developments that I have missed,being in a very different time zone?
What a truly remarkable day for Traynor.
His PR company, bought and paid for by The Tribute Huns, pushes the open door of the Daily Record and places a 5-year-old non-story in there, slyly trying to corral Celtic into the same shit-pit as Level 5’s paymasters.
Then he utterly humiliates The Tribute Huns’ manager, and himself, in a press conference.
But The Record stuff can’t go unchallenged.
I hope and expect that the club’s lawyers are crawling all over this right now.
Knowing The Record, the words will have been legalled by their lawyers, so it might be just the right side of libel. Worth a try, however.
But this is a golden opportunity for Celtic to go on the offensive. This is the hook to hang them on, the whole Level 5, “Rangers”, SFA and Scottish Press complicity.
Formanceyesonly……
No living wage no tax probs…..
Hope the stick man gets through..
Life is braw…
Braw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8x_59EjZOs
A great wee tune that might help the Mods.
The mods
GB in Santa land. ..
You are witnessing a candle burn….and it is Roman…..the top glows ….burns…never to return..
After a season some wee man finds a mucky kunstoff bit….and sticks in his pocket …a little bit of the new history…day wan …..???
Smiley thing …
Braw.
ACGR….
Tell me to goto bed…I am a wee bit vesp!ish…
Braw
Kunstoff is “plastic’ ..although everything that is kunstoff is not necessarily plastic…mmmmm
FAC the ACT
BRAW.
Parkheadcunsalford.
Formancseyesonly…
Augen auf licht in Kopf.
Braw
And Santa in Oslo….box to box ….
Smiley braw thing
Am off to ma wee slllleeping net…
Braw.
ACGR …I love ya…
HamiltonTim.Minx
Condolences on your loss
Charles Finlay
Rest in peace
God bless
HH
MINX1888
HAMILTONTIM
Sorry to hear your sad news. He sounds like a good ‘un!
R I P Charlie.
MINX 1888 and HAMILTONTIM
Sincerely condolences on your loss. Prayers will be offered for the repose of his soul at morning Mass today.
Charles Finlay RIP.
ALSO Iain Mac Swiggan. RIP.
Puts everything else into context.
HAMILTONTIM on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 11:34 PM
Charlie Finlay, now with the Angels in eternal Paradise…no more suffering.
May God Bless his Soul.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
VFR ( or any other person who is smarter than me, shouldn’t be difficult) ?
If I may post my understanding of these ” investment plans” from what I have read so far,
and I fully welcome anyone on here to advise me that I’ve got the wrong end if the stick, and my reading if this issue us wrong, as I probably am ?
Here goes-
As a betting man for many years until a few years ago when someone placed a bet on a horse at a bookies if let’s say a ” £1.00 win on a horse called Celtic Bhoy”.
In those days, the punter ( me) had the option of paying the government’s tax on my £1.00 bet @ 10%, or not ?
If ” Celtic Bhoy” won @ 10/1, and I had paid the govt tax ( 10 pence in the pound) at the time of placing bet, then I would receive £11 in winnings from the bookie.
If I didn’t pay the 10% tax at the time if placing my £1.00 bet, and the horse wins, my winning returns from the bookie would be £11.00, LESS tax @ 10% from THAT figure.
It would mean that I have paid £1.00 in govt tax instead of just 10 pence when placing my bet.
Back in those days of govt tax on betting ( horses football cricket etc), I cannot stress the number if times myself or someone else having a winning bookie line in their pocket, and the first question people would ask you was, ” did you pay your tax” ?
I placed a bet on a brilliant horse tip one day of £10 for myself, and £10 for a barman ( who knew nothing about betting) as their was going on holiday that night and he and my Nate had told him about the tip that lunchtime.
When I was placing the two £10 win bets, I realised that I had forgotten to tell the young barman about the tax ?
I then paid his 10% govt tax on his £10.00 bet, as I did with my own .
The horse won at 33/1.
When I left the bookies with my money, and the barmans winnings also itofcourse came to £330.00 each, as I had paid the govt tax on the two bets.
If I hadn’t, my winnings and the barmans would only have been £330 LESS the 10% govt on thise winnings= £33.00 !
So if I am right about those ” investment plans” that some former Celtic employees took out, assuming that those individuals had the freedom of choice to pay any govt income tax at the time of signing up, instead in when their investment if it reaches to a premium ( horse winnings), then I fail to see what is illegal about any of it ?
Could I possibly be nearly right ( for once ?).
HH
BTW, £330 was a good bit if drinking money in 1985 !
Therefore, if the individuals have had the foresight to pay govt tax when signing up for investment and therefore not pay a whole lot more ata later date, how is that ” tax avoidance” ?
Again if I’m right and the betting scenario that I posted above Tally’s with those investment plans, then have I been a “Tax Avoider” also since my first bet in 1977 ?
Eh, don’t think so !
RIP Charliebhoy.
Good morning friends from a damp and drizzly (and still dark) East Kilbride.
2 more sleeps till we see The Champions play.
Word of The Day
apocopate /əˈpɒkəˌpeɪt/
verb
1. (transitive) to omit the final sound or sounds of (a word)
Derived Forms
apocopation, noun
1850-55; v. use of apocopate (adj.) curtailed, docked.
FAC the Act
KTF
Big Jimmy,
In your betting scenario you had the choice – to pay tax on the amount staked or on the amount won. Bother were lawful decisions. Like the bet itself it was a gamble for each individual punter. If you paid the tax on the stake and the bet lost you were even worse off, if you follow.
But I’m afraid that your scenario has very little in common with the many tax avoidance film partnership schemes that are currently reaching conclusions. Yesterday’s John James site actually contained a really good high level explanation on what many of the film schemes were about.
Work calling…. ;-)
Good morning. Only 11 days to go if you haven’t completed the consultation survey on the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act please click this link and complete it now.
If long forms daunt you, just give your contact details and then complete the 5 questions on Sections 1-5 showing you are in favour of repeal- that is just 5 ticks- then just scroll through to the end and press SUBMIT. It can be done in less than a minute.
If you are unsure about what to write, this crib sheet will help. Remember you are agreeing that the act should be repealed. Also remember to click Complete Survey at the end or your views won’t be included!
FAC the Act!
KTF
HT & The Minx, truly sorry for your loss; candle and Rosary in Celtic’s spiritual home will be said today.
FAC the Act
KTF
HT/Minx
Sorry to hear of your sad loss.
Horrendous to watch a loved one deteriorate in front of you.
He sounds like a fighter!
RIP
BIG JIMMY
The film schemes are Trump stuff .Appear to lose Lots of Money on x and consequently avoid paying tax on y.A super super business Man who managed to” lose” the best part of a billion dollars.He is currently” losing ” Money in the Scottish golf business.Hey Ho !
Thoughts and prayers with Charles Finlay, Iain Mac Swiggan, their families and friends.
HAMILTONTIM/ MINX and DELANEY’S
Condolences to you all KTF !
Swiggy and Charlie RIP
Just back from 2 days in Inversneckie and a front row standing view of the Saw Doctors (brilliant sax playing by Mr. Thistlethwaite), have I missed anything (apart from Scotland;s latest defeat?
HT and Minx
So sorry to read about your loss this morning.
Charlie, a Celt through and through, RIP.