Addison Lee founder owes £20.5m in tax after UK tribunal ruling
Summary
A UK tax tribunal ruled that John Griffin, founder of Addison Lee, must pay £20.5 million in back taxes. The tribunal decided he is domiciled in the UK, so his worldwide income is subject to UK tax rules, rejecting his claim of being domiciled in Ireland.Key Facts
- John Griffin founded the London-based taxi company Addison Lee in 1975.
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) challenged Griffin’s claim that he was domiciled in Ireland, which would reduce his UK tax liability.
- The tribunal ruled that Griffin settled in England by 2013, where he lived, worked, and raised his family.
- Griffin was born in Ireland in 1942 but moved to London at age nine.
- Griffin argued his domicile should be considered the same as his father’s, who was originally from Ireland.
- The tribunal rejected this, agreeing with HMRC that Griffin’s domicile changed to England before he turned 21.
- The ruling applies to tax years 2013 to 2020 and results in a £20.5 million tax bill.
- Griffin was knighted in 2024 but did not appear in court due to health reasons.
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