Gary Barlow and a host of other celebrities lose millions after landmark court ruling over tax dodge scheme

SHOWBIZ stars and footballers have lost millions following a landmark court ruling over a huge tax dodge scheme that Take That frontman Gary Barlow, TV’s Anne Robinson, actor Sir Michael Caine and singer Katie Melua ploughed fortunes into.

Ex-England footballers Darren Anderton and Kevin Davies plus Brit-award winning rockers Arctic Monkeys also piled huge sums into the Liberty scheme.

But they have all now learned HM Revenue and Customs will keep money they had to pay up when the legality of the scheme was challenged in court in 2014.

HMRC has already won back £18million of taxes from the case but predicted the decision will open the floodgates to a further £325million from similar schemes.

Analysts said last night the ruling will cost investors an average of £200,000 and hit wealthy celebs even harder.

The stars are among more than 1,600 who poured £1.2billion into the huge offshore tax avoidance fund between 2005 and 2009.

The Upper Tribunal appeals court ruled the complicated scheme allowed mega-earners to create artificial offshore losses which they claimed back in reduced tax bills.

Investors revealed by a database leak also included criminals and lawyers — and even a judge.

Barlow, 46, invested £4.46million and Weakest Link star Robinson, 73, pumped in £4million.

Zulu and Italian Job star Sir Michael, 84, used Liberty to invest at least £600,000.

Melua, 33, put in £850,000 of her earnings through Liberty in 2008 but has denied tax dodging after paying back cash to HMRC.

She was found to have pumped money into the scheme two years after being nominated for Christian Aid’s Tax Superhero award, having boasted: “I pay nearly half of what comes to me in taxes.”

Tragic pop icon George Michael was reported to have put in £6.2million before his death last Christmas aged 53.

HMRC’s director general for customer compliance Penny Ciniewicz, said: “This is a brilliant victory that will bring in millions of pounds. We have repeatedly warned people about the financial consequences of using tax avoidance schemes.

“More and more people are coming forward and settling what they owe because they know the game is up.”