Jamie Carragher Faces Bankruptcy Threat Over Unpaid Tax Bill

Jamie Carragher faces the threat of being declared bankrupt over an unpaid tax bill understood to be in the region of £700,000 to £800,000.

Court documents seen by the BBC confirm that a case was filed on Wednesday against James Lee Duncan Carragher, the former Liverpool and England defender who has become one of the most prominent pundits in British football.

The petition has been brought by lawyers acting for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The action was first reported by City AM and has now been verified by BBC Sport.

HMRC declined to discuss the specifics of the case, sticking to its standard line on confidentiality. A spokesperson said the organisation does not comment on individual taxpayers, but stressed its general stance on debt recovery: it aims to support those who owe money and are engaging with the process, including by offering instalment plans, and seeks bankruptcy only as a last resort.

Carragher and his representatives have been contacted for comment.

The 46-year-old, who spent his entire senior career at Liverpool from 1996 to 2013, has built a major media profile since retiring. He is a regular on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, appears on the Stick To Football show, and is part of CBS Sports’ Champions League broadcasts.

Late on, Carragher’s camp moved to play down the prospect of the case going any further. A spokesperson told BBC Sport: “This is a private tax matter that should have been resolved sooner, and the appropriate steps are being taken today to settle it. It is understood that the matter will not proceed any further and will be resolved imminently.”

For now, the petition sits on the record. The next move rests on how quickly that promised resolution arrives.