Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley faces a legal challenge against HMRC over a £13.6 million tax dispute.
- Ashley has accused HMRC of failing to provide personal data crucial to his case.
- The dispute emerged after the sale of properties worth £88.6 million in 2012 to Sports Direct.
- HMRC admitted minor breaches but claimed efforts were made to correct them.
- Ashley seeks legal declarations for remaining undisclosed data and related costs.
Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley has initiated legal proceedings against HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) due to a lack of disclosure of personal data following a tax inquiry. This information emerged during a High Court hearing.
Ashley, a renowned figure in the retail industry, sold multiple properties in 2012 to entities affiliated with Sports Direct International, amounting to £88.6 million. This transaction prompted HMRC to scrutinise Ashley’s tax records, resulting in a demand for an additional £13.6 million in taxes.
Despite Ashley’s lawyers filing a subject access request in September 2022, seeking personal data related to the inquiry, HMRC was described by his barrister, Anya Proops KC, as having erected a ‘complete stone wall’, failing to disclose any significant data within a reasonable timeframe.
HMRC, while acknowledging some lapses in fulfilling their data protection obligations, argued that they have endeavoured to address these issues, albeit amidst considerable challenges. They contended that Ashley’s interpretation of his personal data request was unduly extensive.
Ashley now seeks a court declaration in his favour, addressing the outstanding data access issues and the associated legal expenses. The court’s decision remains pending, with a written judgment expected in due course.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for data access rights in tax disputes.
