The Liverpool and Watford wingers said they were the first players to 10,000 pounds a week.
Football legend John Burns says of his tax nightmare, “I’m paying what I owe.”
The Liverpool and Watford wingers were the first players to £10,000 a week, but said they have been paying HMRC for the past eight years after suffering a huge loss from a less-advised investment. He spoke to all business podcasts to clear what he said was a misleading report about his finances.
Since 2017, Burns said he has repaid around £2.2 million and has continued to pay £10,000 a month under an arrangement agreed with tax authorities. Last April, Bankruptcy Services banned Burns, 60, from acting as the company’s director after his business failed to pay £190,000 in taxes. Earlier this month, it was reported that HMRC had filed a petition against him with the High Court over £1.5 million outstanding debt.
read more: Just as Anfield is waiting, after the x of Real Madrid and England, a week after Trent Alexander Arnold’s nightmareread more: Reuben Amorim sends forwarding message to kobbie mainoo, hoping for a £50 million exit
The English star told the podcast: “I made a lot of money. I’m a soccer player who costs £10,000 a week and I’ve benefited from it for several years. Like many elite sports people, I trusted a few times and lost between £1 million and £15 million in four years.
“In 2017, I started talking to HMRC about what I could do to pay back what I owe.”
He said since then, when he was offered the petition, he and his legal representatives went to court to arrange to pay because he didn’t want to go bankrupt.
Burns added: “I know how difficult it is for the people there. I don’t want to say there’s a loophole, or I can get away with this and that.
“But whenever something new begins, the story appears to reporters who say negative things about me not paying taxes, not paying taxes, but asking for permission to continue paying, rather than going bankrupt.
“Soccer is a working class sport and I have all this money and I don’t want them to work hard thinking they don’t pay taxes. They can’t take anything from me, so it’s easy to go bankrupt.”
He said that the negative stories surrounding his finances spoke about business inclusion and diversity, and influenced normal work. He said that this has stopped inviting companies, particularly in the banks and financial sector, to speak, of course. He added that he still makes money through professional engagement and does not allow his struggle with HMRC to affect his attitude towards life.
“I’ve had some sleepless nights, but it didn’t have a big impact as I’m looking at the way around the world. And there are a lot of people who are struggling more than I do. And as long as I can work and pay, I’m just grateful.
“But the important thing is that I’m reassuring people, and the reason I’m talking about this now is because the stories around me are so negative. I’ve been so lucky to have the kids having a head and roof on the table.
“The only reason I’m doing this is because people say things aren’t true. I don’t want to think that former professional footballer John Burns is hiding all his money and not paying taxes.”
Barnes was banned from acting as director of the company for the age of three and a half years after his business failed to pay £190,000 in taxes, Solvency Service said. He was the sole listing director of John Barnes Media Ltd, the “media representative” company that began liquidation in 2023.
Insolvency Service began researching the company and found that it paid no tax at all despite sales of £441,798 between November 2018 and October 2020.
Burns has signed a disqualification business that bans him from acting as manager. The business prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of the company without special permission from the court.
Mike Smith, Chief Investigator at Insolvency Service, said Barnes has a “legal obligation” to ensure that the company pays the correct corporate tax and VAT.
“Individuals and businesses that do not pay taxes should take the government out of the funds they need to provide important public services and investments in areas such as schools, hospitals and roads.”
Burns won 79 England caps between 1983 and 1995, and after finishing his playing career he served as Celtic head coach.
Join the new WhatsApp community and receive a daily amount of mirror football content. We also treat community members with special offers, promotions and advertising. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, you can read the privacy notice.
Sky Sports Discount Premier League and EFL Packages
£49
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has significantly reduced the prices of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundles ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving its members to £336, and offering over 1,400 live matches in the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, showing an even greater increase of up to 100.
