The House of Commons Treasury Committee has asked HMRC whether it is aware of the Premier League commission’s findings against Manchester City and what tax work it undertakes on football clubs. That request is not evidence that HMRC has opened an investigation or found tax or National Insurance was underpaid. City appealed the commission’s decision, and the appeal and sanction processes were unresolved as of 4 October 2026.
What Parliament has asked HMRC
On 1 October 2026, Treasury Committee Chair Dame Meg Hillier wrote to HMRC Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive JP Marks. The committee asked whether HMRC knew about the commission’s findings, whether it had requested or received an unredacted copy of the report, and for an overview of HMRC’s work on football-club taxation, including remuneration and potential tax avoidance. The committee requested a response by 15 October 2026; that date was still in the future on 4 October.
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The committee also acknowledged that taxpayer confidentiality may limit what HMRC can disclose. Its request is for information and public-interest scrutiny, not an announcement that HMRC has started a tax case. UK Parliament: Treasury Committee asks HMRC about Manchester City · Treasury Committee chair’s letter to HMRC
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What the Premier League says the commission found
On 29 September, the Premier League published a redacted summary saying an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious financial-rule breaches across nine seasons, and most charges related to failures to cooperate with the league’s investigation. The league described well over 100 individual breaches of its rules. These are football disciplinary findings, not tax offences.
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Arrangements and accounting
According to the Premier League’s summary, the commission found sham commercial arrangements with sponsors and other arrangements funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), the club’s owner. The league says sponsors paid only part of some fees and ADUG funded the remainder. Its summary also describes arrangements that reduced reported operating expenses and a circular arrangement relating to player image rights.
The Treasury Committee’s letter quotes the commission as finding that a significant part of remuneration for services to the club was absent from the employment contract or recorded liabilities and instead appeared in a consultancy agreement. The letter says the commission found that this concealed the true extent of liabilities. Names and identifying details in the quoted passages are redacted. It quotes the commission describing devices as “shams and/or did not reflect the economic substance of the arrangements that in fact existed.” Premier League statement on Manchester City FC
What the £900 million figure means
The Premier League says the arrangements artificially inflated revenue and reduced costs by more than £900 million over the affected period, making the club appear to comply with football financial rules. The league says accurate reporting would have shown breaches of Premier League and UEFA spending limits. This figure is the league’s account of the commission’s findings; it is not an estimate of tax lost, tax due, or an HMRC assessment.
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The Premier League proceedings concern the league’s rules, accounting and liabilities. The sources available as of 4 October 2026 do not establish that HMRC has opened an investigation, concluded that tax or National Insurance was underpaid, or assessed Manchester City. They also do not publish a figure for tax paid, tax due, or National Insurance liability. The committee is asking HMRC for its position and a broader account of its work; it has not supplied those answers itself.
That distinction matters because a finding about how a club reported revenue, costs or remuneration under football rules does not, by itself, determine its tax position. HMRC’s assessment, if any, is not established by the Premier League’s published summary or the committee’s letter.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.City’s appeal and possible sanctions
The Premier League’s stated appeal deadline was 2 October 2026. Manchester City appealed before that deadline, disputing the commission’s opinion and saying it contained material errors. The league says the Appeal Board process is confidential until publication of an outcome is permitted, so the appeal result was not known at the research timestamp. Associated Press: City lodges appeal after financial-rule verdict
The Premier League says sanctions will be considered separately by the independent commission. No sanction had been announced by 4 October. The league identifies fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions as possible under its rules; the Associated Press also reports that a reprimand or expulsion could be possible. These are potential outcomes, not predictions.
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Key dates and status
| Date | Development | Status as of 4 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 September 2026 | Premier League published a redacted summary of the commission’s findings. | Findings appealed by Manchester City. |
| 1 October 2026 | Treasury Committee chair wrote to HMRC with questions about awareness, access to the report and football-club tax work. | HMRC response requested; not yet due. |
| 2 October 2026 | Premier League’s stated deadline for an appeal. | Manchester City had appealed. |
| 15 October 2026 | Date requested for HMRC’s response to the committee. | Still in the future. |
What to watch next
- HMRC’s response to the committee, subject to taxpayer-confidentiality limits.
- Publication of the Appeal Board outcome, when permitted.
- The independent commission’s separate decision on any sporting sanction.
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