Two UK divisions of the controversial ticket resale platform Viagogo have been handed a substantial £15 million tax bill by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The HMRC Investigation Details
The financial demand targets VGL Services and IFOT Services, both UK-based entities operating under the US-listed StubHub group, which owns Viagogo. The bill stems from a transfer pricing inquiry conducted by HMRC, focusing on the tax periods between 2016 and 2018.
According to reports, these companies do not directly sell tickets to consumers. Instead, they have operated as suppliers to other companies within the larger corporate group. The Guardian has explicitly stated that there is no suggestion the company deliberately sought to avoid or evade tax.
Company Response and Broader Challenges
The businesses involved have contested HMRC's findings, arguing that the decision has resulted in double taxation. A statement from the firms indicated that the timing of further payments and settlement remains unclear.
This tax development emerges just days after Viagogo faced another significant regulatory challenge. Euroconsumers, a European consumer organisation, has filed a formal complaint against the platform under the European Union Digital Services Act (DSA).
The group alleges that Viagogo's website design and its failure to provide adequate information about resellers using its platform violate EU regulations. Els Bruggeman, Euroconsumers' Head of Policy & Enforcement, stated: "For too long, Viagogo has profited from unfair practices and opaque strategies that hurt fans and distort the live events market."
In response to the DSA complaint, a Viagogo spokesperson said the company had not yet been formally notified by the Irish regulator but insisted that Viagogo takes its responsibilities under the DSA seriously and has implemented all necessary measures to ensure full compliance since the legislation came into effect.
