Oz cricketers angry over UK Govt. demand for Ashes tour related tax

Sydney, June 14 (ANI): Australian cricketers are seething after receiving huge tax bills from the British government following their tour of England.

Some of the top earners owe in excess of 150,000 dollars, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

While the players are always taxed on overseas earnings, they have previously offset the hefty sums when completing their tax in Australia and transferring owed monies to foreign governments from their returns.

To do this, it is believed they get a deferment on overseas taxes before each tour via a withholding clause.

The waiver was either not sought nor approved before the Ashes trip and now the players are paying out of their pockets, adding to the pain of surrendering the urn.

Australia's top earners - Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin - are believed to owe six-figure amounts.

Cricket Australia last week sent an email to all players involved in the tour alerting them of the bill and advising them that they must start paying.

The players are being taxed twice. However, it is understood they will be able to claim back the excess tax.

The Herald can reveal that some players are angry with CA, whom they deem responsible for organising the withholding clause.

Money they have reserved for loan repayments and business ventures is being docked from their wages to pay the outstanding tax.

It is not yet known why or how the oversight occurred, but players said it had not happened before. (ANI)