Sportech VAT repayment appeal date set for April

Sportech has announced that a hearing for its appeal in relation to a VAT repayment claim on its ‘Spot the Ball’ game has been scheduled for either April 7 or 8.

In February last year, the pools and sports betting operator said a hearing at the UK’s Court of Appeal had been scheduled for the week commencing November 2.

However, Sportech in November revealed that the hearing had been postponed due to a “lack of judicial availability”.

Sportech has now said that its appeal should be heard by the Court of Appeal on either April 7 or 8.

In 2013, the First-Tier Tribunal ruled in favour of Sportech in a VAT case relating to the game, with the operator receiving a payment of £93 million (€124.9 million/$135.9 million) from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

However, the decision was reversed in September 2014 when Sportech was ordered to repay the money following an appeal lodged by HMRC, but Sportech was granted permission to appeal against the decision in January of this year.

In its November statement, Sportech noted that the figure in question stands at £97 million.

Related article: Sportech VAT repayment appeal hearing postponed