HMRC investigates secondary ticketers’ taxes

British tax collection agency Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reportedly investigating the tax affairs of several secondary ticketing sites operating in the UK.

The news comes on the recommendation of Culture, Media and Sport Committee – the select committee that recently heard evidence from managers, artists and ticketing companies in a session on ‘ticket abuse’ – which recommended last month that HMRC look into the “under-reporting of income by known touts”.

In a statement to the BBC, the agency says: “HMRC will always act where we believe individuals and businesses are not declaring their income correctly or paying the tax that they owe.”

Four secondary ticketing companies – StubHub, Viagogo, Get Me In! and Seatwave – are already under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority for alleged breaches of consumer protection legislation.

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