Mike Ashley sues HMRC over data access failures
- Mike Ashley requested personal data from HMRC related to a £13.6 million tax dispute.
- HMRC initially withheld significant amounts of data, providing limited information only 17 months later.
- Ashley is seeking a declaration in his favor and claims HMRC's handling of the request reflects poor conduct.
In the United Kingdom, retail tycoon Mike Ashley has initiated legal proceedings against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regarding his attempts to obtain personal data linked to a significant tax dispute. This legal battle emerged after Ashley faced a claim from HMRC, which asserted that he owed an additional £13.6 million in tax. The dispute began when Ashley's legal team submitted a request for personal data under the subject access provisions of data protection law in September 2022. During the High Court proceedings, it was revealed that HMRC failed to comply with this request adequately, leading to claims that a substantial amount of personal data was wrongfully withheld from Mr. Ashley. The court heard that HMRC initially did not provide any data, and after 17 months, only offered limited information—timing which coincided with the commencement of legal action. Ashley's barrister, Anya Proops, criticized HMRC for its lack of transparency, emphasizing that HMRC's processing of extensive personal data related to the inquiry was ignored in their responses. Mr. Cornwell, representing HMRC, conceded that while they had not met their obligations completely, they claimed to have rectified their failures post-request. He argued, however, that some information requested by Ashley went beyond the definition of personal data and suggested that HMRC acted within reasonable search parameters given the volume of work involved. The case underscores the complexities of handling subject access requests in high-stakes financial disputes. Ashley's assertion is that the right to access personal data is integral to understanding the tax body's decisions. With this ongoing legal challenge, the outcome may have implications not only for Mr. Ashley but also for the operational practices of HMRC in managing personal data requests. The hearing, presided over by Mrs. Justice Heather Williams, concluded with a decision expected later, which could potentially shape data protection practices and the handling of personal data by public authorities in the UK.