The Ex-Labour director was questioned by HMRC after receiving £140,000 in payments from the union

A former Labor chairman has been questioned by tax authorities after receiving nearly £140,000 from his union, it has been claimed.

Ian Lavery, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, insists his tax affairs are up to date and said HMRC found that ‘no further review is needed’.

MP Wansbeck, who served as president of the national union Northumberland Mining Workers (NUM), acknowledged that he had been the subject of an HMRC investigation, but said ‘no additional payment has been made. any supplement is required or the penalty is applied’.

But yesterday, the tax lawyer who is said to have brought down former prime minister Nadhim Zahaw over a multimillion-pound tax bill, said Mr Lavery still had many questions to answer.

Ian Lavery, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, insists his tax affairs are up to date and said HMRC found that ‘no further review is needed’.

Dan Neidle, former head of tax at a leading law firm, said: ‘I fear that, like Mr Zahawi, Mr Lavery has decided how best to respond to people asking legitimate questions about the tax issue. His job is to make bland claims that all taxes are there. well paid, ignore the specific questions being asked and hope it all goes away.’

Newspaper i, which revealed the story last night, reported that the former miner refused to answer repeated questions about whether he had fully declared the payments from his former employer. yourself – NUM – ​​for HMRC or not.

Inquiries regarding a £72,500 loan given by the union to Mr Lavery, pictured, to buy a property, the loan was later written off.

It is claimed he also received a termination payment of £60,600 excluding tax from the NUM branch he has led for eight years.

After discovering an overpayment of £30,600, Mr Lavery returned £15,000 – but not the remaining £15,600 – meaning he kept £45,600.

Mr. Lavery has been contacted by the Mail several times for comment but has received no response.

He told me: ‘All taxes have been and have always been paid according to HMRC requirements by me and my former employer.’