Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher is facing a potential bankruptcy case after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) filed a petition over an unpaid tax bill reportedly worth between £700,000 and £800,000.
Court documents show that the petition was filed against Carragher’s full name, James Lee Duncan Carragher, at the Insolvency and Companies Court, a specialist division of the High Court, on Wednesday. The development was first reported by City A.M. and subsequently confirmed by other British media outlets.
The exact amount involved has not been publicly disclosed by HMRC. However, reports have put the outstanding liability in the region of £700,000 to £800,000.
Carragher’s representatives have moved to reassure the public that the matter is being addressed and is expected to be resolved shortly. The issue has been described as a private tax matter that should have been settled earlier.
HMRC, while declining to comment specifically on Carragher’s case, said it takes a supportive approach towards taxpayers who have outstanding debts and works with them to find ways of clearing what they owe.
The tax authority also stressed that bankruptcy proceedings are generally considered only after other efforts to recover outstanding debts have been exhausted. Options such as repayment or instalment arrangements can be offered to taxpayers who engage with HMRC.
The development comes against the backdrop of Carragher’s successful post-playing career. The 48-year-old spent his entire professional career with Liverpool, making 737 appearances for the club between 1996 and 2013 and helping the Reds win the 2005 UEFA Champions League among several major honours.
Since retiring from football, Carragher has established himself as one of the most recognisable football analysts in Britain. He is a prominent member of Sky Sports’ football coverage and has also worked with CBS Sports on Champions League broadcasts.
Carragher has also become a familiar figure alongside former Manchester United defender Gary Neville on the Stick to Football podcast, where the pair regularly discuss major developments in the game.
Despite the high-profile nature of the bankruptcy petition, the case is not the same as Carragher being declared bankrupt. A petition is a legal step seeking bankruptcy, and the matter can be resolved before bankruptcy is formally declared.
With Carragher’s representatives indicating that steps are already being taken to settle the outstanding tax issue, the case could be brought to an end once the liability is addressed.
