Mike Ashley’s legal fight against HMRC centres on a disputed £13.6m tax demand.
- Ashley claims HMRC breached data obligations by withholding personal information.
- The billionaire’s legal team requests a declaration for unmet data rights.
- HMRC acknowledges minor compliance issues but defends its overall actions.
- The outcome of the ongoing High Court case remains pending.
Sports Direct mogul Mike Ashley has launched a legal challenge against HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), accusing the body of obstructing his access to personal data in the wake of a £13.6 million tax demand. This confrontation surfaced as HMRC pursued additional tax from Ashley, a move that sparked contentious proceedings in the High Court.
Ashley claims a serious breach of data protection laws by HMRC, stressing that despite the agency’s inevitable possession of extensive personal data linked to its inquiry, it failed to yield any of such information upon request. His barrister conveyed in court that there was “a complete stone wall” in response to the data access demand.
Although HMRC concedes to certain minor lapses in compliance, it upholds that efforts have been made to rectify these issues in good faith. The tax body also argues that Ashley’s interpretation of his data rights is excessively broad, adding complexity to the proceedings. The legal teams continue to spar over the scope and implications of these data rights as the hearing progresses.
Ashley’s legal entanglement is rooted in property sales made back in 2012, involving special purpose vehicles associated with Sports Direct International. The tax inquiry arose from these transactions, leading to the contested tax notice, which Ashley successfully challenged, resulting in its withdrawal in October 2022.
Currently, the High Court waits to deliver its final judgement on the matter. The hearing is anticipated to conclude shortly, with a written decision expected thereafter, potentially shaping future interactions between high-profile individuals and tax authorities.
The legal proceedings between Mike Ashley and HMRC highlight significant issues regarding data access rights and tax obligations, with the High Court’s upcoming decision poised to set an influential precedent.
