TAX DODGE CELEBS ON HONOURS BLACKLIST
160 stars flagged in HMRC probe
MORE than 160 celebrities who were nominated for honours were denied gongs due to tax dodging.
HMRC looks into nominees to ensure the Queen is not left embarrassed by who she gives awards to.
Now the taxman has confirmed that 163 top TV, film, music and sports stars, and other public figures, were flagged over their finances.
Since January 2013, 43 people recommended for an honour have been flagged as “high risk”, Freedom of Information figures show.
This means they use avoidance schemes on a “serial basis”, are under criminal investigation for tax fraud or are involved in “offshore evasion”.
And 120 people have been given a “medium risk” rating, which is for those “participating in avoidance schemes”, subject to a non-criminal investigation, or who show “frequent” delays in sending tax returns.
Last year, leaked emails indicated that ex-England skipper David Beckham’s knighthood was blocked four years ago over a HMRC “flag”. Beckham,
43, had invested in film schemes run by Ingenious Media, later alleged to be a tax avoidance strategy.
He said that “everything is and was above board”.
Around 2,200 people a year usually receive honours, but last year only around 720 were vetted. Tax campaigner Richard Murphy said it shows HMRC “spends too much time going after small businesses and not enough time on the very wealthy”.
The Government has previously said the vetting process is “to protect the integrity of the system”.