Gary Barlow says he is ‘not evil’ and plans to sue advisers over tax scheme
Gary Barlow, his manager and fellow Take That stars Mark Owen and Howard Donald ploughed £66million into the programme called Icebreaker
Gary Barlow is thinking of suing experts who advised him to invest millions in a tax avoidance scheme after telling a pal: “I’m not evil.”
The Sunday People reports, Barlow, his manager and fellow Take That stars Mark Owen and Howard Donald ploughed £66million into the programme called Icebreaker.
But they face paying £20million to HM Revenue & Customs after a court ruled it was not a lawful scheme.
He is now investigating how accounting staff allowed his money to be put into the fund.
The singer has vowed to “leave no stone unturned”.
Barlow also put £4.46million into a tax programme called Liberty, used by stars including George Michael, Sir Michael Caine and Katie Melua.
Former X Factor judge Gary , 43, is considering joining moves to change the law on tax, removing grey areas between what is legal and what is not.
A source close to the star revealed: “This is an incredibly complex issue and Gary is looking into it carefully.
“He is trying to get to the bottom of it.
“He and the others took advice from qualified people. They are now looking at taking legal action against them.
“He wants to do what is right and make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“Gary’s view is that he put his trust in the hands of financial experts. He is a musician, he knows nothing about money, he never has, so he entrusted people to advise him.
“He writes music and he sings and he pays finance experts to keep his money safe and do the right thing with it.
“Gary isn’t evil, he isn’t a money grabber and he is very upset about this.
“He isn’t passing the buck either.
“He is trying to sort this out, to make sure others don’t find themselves in the same position.”
It emerged two months ago that dad-of-three Gary had been involved in tax avoidance schemes.
He is yet to make a formal statement and has since been seen in public just once – looking solemn and carrying his own luggage at New York JFK airport.
As well as consulting solicitors on taking legal action against his advisers, he told friends how he wants to work for changes to
current tax laws.
Until recently, schemes such as Icebreaker and Liberty were legal.
The Take That star feels it should be more clear what is acceptable and what isn’t. He is also acutely aware the issue does not just affect celebrities.
Small businesses are also at risk.
The source explained: “Gary knows this could happen to anyone. People running small businesses could find themselves in a similar position.
“They could be given the wrong advice and find themselves with lots of money to pay back.
“It is confusing and there have to be changes.”
Nine Million Bicycles singer Katie Melua, 29, also said she put her trust in financial experts when she was a “clueless and inexperienced” 19-year-old.
She insisted she was told Liberty was “legit” and is now “embarrassed”.
Barlow shot to fame in the 1990s when Take That became Britain’s top boyband and has since earned millions.
He replaced Simon Cowell on the X Factor three years ago in a deal worth £1million a year.
Along with Owen, Donald and fourth band member Jason Orange he is writing for a new Take That album.
