Einar Solheim wrote: ================ > I have not seen any statement from the HMRC that they were ACTIVELY helping > us with payments... you make it sound like they were even paying part of > the debts from their own pockets. HMRC did nothing to help us. T
Er allowing someone who has failed to pay over taxation collected on behalf of the Government to then pay those monies in instalments appears to me like helping. And if you read Ken Bates letter to the football chairmen he acknowledges this. Ken Bates collected taxation on behalf of the government from all sorts of sources, VAT, PAYE and National Insurance. As in the case of many other football clubs in trouble (41 League clubs since 1992) the Tax man has seen people using taxes which should have been handed over to the Treasury as a form of piggy bank. In every case the taxman has initially agreed a repayment plan based on negotiation with the clubs concewrned. In Leeds United's case this was £200,000 per month. In March 2007 Leeds united defaulted on this payment and again in April 2007. In keeping with practice which operates for all businesses in the UK the taxman then sent Leeds United a notice of their intention to take Leeds United to court over this. I don't know much about tax laws in any other country but I do know that in the UK this is what happens to business in any sector who collect taxation on behalf of the government and then fail to pay it over. Ken Bates is a self professed businessman surrounded by apparently knowledgeable advisors. Advisors who clearly told him we were in clover in September 2006 and heading for financial stability at the end of the season and then for some reason minds were changed - almost entirely by the desire for Astor to amortise its debt through a charge on Leeds United's assets. Einar, old love you need to look much further into this before you make such sweeping statements. If you don't understand it that is not abad thing, people like Ken Bates rely on their ability to obfuscate and to use the arcane rather than to act in a straightforward, transparent manner. It has been his trademark throughout his business life and this is a recognised fact in the UK by anyone who has given his career even a cursory glance. Coffe time methinks Arabica anyone? Betty _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist Join The Leeds United Supporters Trust at www.lufctrust.org
