DUNDEE UNITED claimed over a £1million through a tax relief scheme meant for ‘science and technology innovation’, according to a report.
The Scottish Premiership outfit are one of 28 top-flight sports teams from across the UK that have been paid out of the public purse by HMRC.
Tannadice Park, home of Dundee United[/caption]
The HM Treasury building on Whitehall, London[/caption]
Premier League clubs Chelsea and Nottingham Forest were also named by The Times as having benefited from the payouts.
It’s believed the scheme has also been used by rugby and cricket teams.
Dundee United are reported to have earned £1.3m in research and development (R&D) tax relief payments from HMRC between 2021 and 2022.
Under the rules of the scheme, clubs should only apply if it has made a genuine advancement in science and technology that benefits the greater good, not just its own business.
SunSport has contacted Dundee United for comment on how they qualified for the funds.
The £1.3m figure equates to 15 per cent of the club’s turnover that year, though claims can be made for research activity across a number of years.
The Tannadice club made the claims with the help of ZLX, a Glasgow-based company that was criticised in a recent court case for what the sheriff found was a proposal to make an R&D claim on behalf of a fruit and vegetable company for installing a fridge.
ZLX describe themselves as ‘Research & Development tax credit experts’.
United launched ‘The United Lab‘ in April 2020 with the aim of “brokering new channels for ideas and innovation and ensuring we are aware of the latest scientific innovations, global trends and future talent” – the brainchild of chiefs at the club who have all since left (Tony Asghar, Sean McGee, Dr Ryland Morgans and Dr Dan Parnell).
Chelsea are reported to have been paid over £2m between 2020 and 2023 through the R&D scheme.
Nottingham Forest claimed a tax credit of £607,000 according to their last set of accounts.
Fulham claimed £86,000 in credits between 2019 and 2021.
In rugby, Premiership side Harlequins have received £1.3m of public money £1.3 million since 2020, including £795,000 in payments and £530,000 in tax credits.
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