Former England Footballer Trevor Sinclair Declared Bankrupt Over £36k Tax Debt

Trevor Sinclair, former England international and Premier League footballer, has been declared bankrupt due to an unpaid tax debt of £36,424 related to his punditry work during the 2021-22 tax year. Despite being granted extensions and opportunities to propose alternative payment plans, Sinclair failed to attend court hearings or communicate with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The debt includes significant sums over £13,000, National Insurance contributions, and penalties, and arose partly after the death of Sinclair's accountant. HMRC argued that Sinclair, having earned substantial income from his football and media career, should have been able to settle the debt, but no payments or proposals were made. Judge Caroline Wilkinson emphasized that Sinclair needed to face the seriousness of his financial situation, but his continued absence led to the court ordering bankruptcy. Sinclair’s lawyer noted that some of the debt stemmed from Sinclair being incorrectly classified as self-employed, and that Sinclair had received a job offer in Saudi Arabia, but these factors did not prevent the bankruptcy ruling.