Int'l rugby players could be "in for a bruising from the U.K. tax authority after the World Cup," as they have not been exempted from a levy that extends to their global income, according to Adam Palin of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Foreign sportsmen -- like actors and musicians -- have "long had to pay HM Revenue & Customs on earnings connected to their U.K. appearances, deterring some of the highest paid stars from playing in the country." Exemptions to the tax have been made to ensure that the U.K. could hold int'l competitions -- most notably the 2012 Olympic Games in London -- "but it was not a stipulation of World Rugby," the sport's governing body, for hosting this year's tournament. Accounting Partner at Saffery Champness Pete Hackleton said that although int'l rugby players' salaries are "usually paid in their home countries, and therefore not liable for U.K. tax," any income from global sponsorship deals would be "fair game" for HMRC. Hackleton: "High profile players like Dan Carter and Brian Habana, for example, make reasonably big money from endorsements, and HMRC could make a claim." Hackleton said that given the best-paid rugby players earn much less than their counterparts in golf and tennis, he expects HMRC "will probably not bother" to issue them with tax demands." He added, "Equally, given some of the detail they go into these, I wouldn't put it past them." According to research reported by EY, hosting the World Cup will "directly generate" £464M ($704M) for the U.K. economy -- "mainly through visitor spending" -- rising to an estimated £982M ($1.5B) "when indirect impacts are taken into account" (FT, 9/25).
