Overview
- Solicitors for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs filed a petition at the High Court against James Lee Duncan Carragher on Wednesday seeking a bankruptcy order over an unpaid tax bill.
- A bankruptcy petition is a legal tool used to recover unpaid sums and requires a court decision before any person can be declared bankrupt.
- Carragher’s representatives said the issue is a private tax matter that should be settled imminently and they expect the petition will not progress to a bankruptcy order.
- Media reports have suggested the amount could be in the region of £700,000–£800,000 but that figure has not been independently confirmed and HMRC does not comment on individual cases.
- HMRC says it treats bankruptcy as a last resort and offers payment options to engaged taxpayers, and insolvency experts note petitions are often withdrawn if the debt is paid or an arrangement is reached.