Man City HMRC investigation opened in 2018 over ‘sham’ commercial deals

HM Revenue and Customs reportedly opened a civil investigation into Manchester City in 2018 regarding complex tax arrangements. The probe followed leaked internal emails published by Der Spiegel, which also triggered the Premier League's investigation. An independent commission recently concluded that Manchester City artificially inflated finances by over £900 million between 2009 and 2018 through alleged sham commercial deals, which the club strongly denies.

The HMRC inquiry was conducted under Code of Practice 8 for suspected tax avoidance without allegations of deliberate fraud, but was never formally concluded. Manchester City maintained to tax authorities that their arrangements were proper, and HMRC has not pursued further action. The club has formally lodged an appeal against the Premier League commission's guilty verdict.