Jamie Carragher Avoids Bankruptcy After Settling Tax Bill
The former Liverpool defender reached an agreement with HMRC, leading to the dismissal of a bankruptcy petition.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will not face bankruptcy after settling an unpaid tax bill with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The bankruptcy petition against Carragher, 48, was dismissed by Judge Nicholas Briggs at the Insolvency and Companies Court on Tuesday.
The petition was filed in August, but the debt has since been paid, according to Kevin Hassan, who represented HMRC at the hearing. The exact figure of the debt was not disclosed in court, but previous reports indicated it was between £700,000 and £800,000.
HMRC stated that it takes a supportive approach to customers with tax debts and seeks to assist those who engage with them, offering options like installment plans. Bankruptcy petitions are considered a last resort.
A spokesperson for Carragher commented that the matter was a private tax issue that should have been resolved sooner and that appropriate steps were being taken for settlement. It was understood the issue would not proceed further and would be resolved imminently.
Carragher spent his entire professional career with Liverpool, making 737 appearances and being part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2005. He is considered a club legend. His annual salary with Liverpool is believed to have peaked at approximately £5 million per year. He also earned 38 caps for England and participated in the 2004 Euros and the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
Beyond his playing career, Carragher is now a pundit for Sky Sports' Premier League coverage and for CBS Sports' Champions League broadcasts in the United States. He also contributes to the "Stick To Football" podcast, part of Gary Neville's media business, The Overlap.
Carragher is involved in charitable work, founding the 23 Foundation to support young people in Merseyside and co-founding Football For Change, an initiative aimed at combating child poverty through education, sport, and training. He is also reportedly involved in an advisory capacity with the non-league club Marine.
He is married to Nicola, and they have two children: James, who plays for League One club Wigan Athletic, and Mia, an actress and model.