Radio presenter loses IR35 case
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a sports radio presenter’s argument that IR35 didn’t apply to his engagements with TalkSPORT. What’s the full story?

The presenter engaged with TalkSPORT via a limited company. HMRC raised assessments totally £143,000 for income tax and NI, on the basis that the was caught by IR35. The First Tier Tribunal sided with the presenter, but this was overturned at the Upper Tribunal, and now the Court of Appeal has also dismissed his appeal.
The Court found that there was mutuality of obligation because Kickabout Productions Limited required TalkSPORT to offer the presenter airtime for at least 222 days per year. The contract also gave TalkSPORT the right to suspend the presenter, which is consistent with a contract of employment. The Court also confirmed that an absence of workers’ rights in the contract did not carry much weight in determining the employment status because, if there was an employment relationship, he would enjoy the rights conferred by law on employees.
This case again shows us the importance of analysing the details of each specific case before assuming the employment status of a particular engagement.
Related Topics
-
The Deputy Prime Minister, SDLT and a tale of woe
You can’t have missed the recent furore surrounding the apparent tax dodging exploits of Angela Rayner. The issues involved might seem remote for most taxpayers, but are there lessons to be learned for all of us?
-
In-year relief claim? Prove it
Taxpayers not in self-assessment and who need to claim relief on pension contributions must now send evidence to HMRC. What’s the full story?
-
HMRC has withdrawn Form 652. How should you notify VAT errors going forward?