A number of England ’ s Ashes cricket stars are facing ‘ very substantial ’ bills from the tax man after investing in film funds , it has been reported . International players including some members of the Ashes-winning team of 2005 are said to have been among those who invested in partnerships set up by Ingenious Media . HM Revenue & Customs is reported to have sent demands to Michael Vaughan , Paul Collingwood , Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles – all of whom took part in the landmark triumph over Australia . HM Revenue & Customs is reported to have sent demands to Michael Vaughan ( left ) and Paul Collingwood ( right ) According to the Guardian , the four players invested in Ingenious Film Partners in February and March 2005 - just months before England secured its first Ashes victory in 18 years . HMRC is currently locked in a legal battle with Ingenious Media , which set up the partnerships , claiming the investments were a means of avoiding tax . The company has previously denied the claims , saying HMRC approved its schemes at the time and that the investments were made in box office hits including Avatar and Hotel Rwanda . The Guardian reports that former England captain Michael Vaughan invested in three of the partnerships being challenged by HMRC – Ingenious Film Partners 2 , Ingenious Film Partners and Inside Track Productions . Ashes heroes Matthew Hoggard ( left ) and Ashley Giles ( right ) are also reported to have been sent demands by the taxman . Sky Sports presenter and former Ashes winner David Gower ( left ) is also on the list of investors along with former International batsmen Alec Stewart ( right ) Sky Sports presenter and former Ashes winner David Gower is also on the list of investors along with former International batsmen Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher . The list of investors is publicly registered at Companies House . The managing director of Arundel Wealth , Jon Alexander , was brought in by the Professional Cricketers ’ Association to provide assistance for the players affected . The Guardian quotes him as saying that some are facing ‘ very substantial demands ’ . Apart from David Gower , the former cricketers contacted by the newspaper declined to discuss the matter publicly – although one spoke anonymously to say the demand could place him in ‘ financial difficulty ’ . David Gower is quoted as saying that the money involved ‘ won ’ t wipe me out. ’ Ashes heroes : Michael Vaughan ( right ) was captain as England won the Ashes in 2005 while Matthew Hoggard ( left ) was a key wicket-taker . But he added : ‘ But the principle is just wrong and I want to stand up against it . The government wanted to encourage investment in the film industry , there was a genuine element of risk . ‘ The films were successful and generated more than £1bn in taxable income and now HMRC is coming back ten years later saying the schemes weren ’ t valid. ’ Ingenious has repeatedly defended the schemes it set up and has said it is confident of winning the legal battle . A spokesman is quoted in the Guardian as saying that its partnerships were either 'sale and leaseback partnerships ’ established under government legislation or were ‘ bona fide commercial partnerships operated for profit ’ . The case comes as HMRC stepped up its crackdown on tax-avoidance schemes in a bid to claw back £7.1billion from 43,000 people .
HM Revenue and Customs said to have sent demands to several cricketers . They include some members of England 's legendary Ashes 2005 team . Players said to have invested in partnerships set up by Ingenious Media . Former England captain Michael Vaughan among those sent a demand . Paul Collingwood , Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Giles invested in schemes . Former stars David Gower , Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher also on list of investors publicly registered at Companies House . Ingenious Media is in legal battle with HMRC which claims investments were a means of avoiding tax . Company denies this insisting the partnerships it set up were legitimate .