CRICKET clubs are facing billed for thousands of pounds as Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launches a crackdown on their earnings.

Hampshire Cricket Board says three clubs in its Southern Electric Premier League have already been investigated by the taxman as part of the so-called “cricket club tax”.

Premier League sides St Cross Symondians, Bournemouth and Alton, and first division Burridge have all had visits from tax inspectors.

Taxmen go through clubs’ accounts to see what untaxed earnings exist in payments to staff including bar workers and coaches.

Inspectors are contacting clubs and some in the UK have been issued with tax bills for more than £15,000.

That has sparked fears that big bills could threaten the future of some clubs, while there is also anger that the Government is going after small sports clubs when multi-national firms such as Starbucks and Google have avoided paying billions of pounds in tax.

Jon Player, chairman of St Cross Symondians, which is one of the largest clubs in the county, said: “We have to come to a satisfactory outcome, which is not too damaging.

“The issue is around coaching, as we are almost entirely reliant on volunteers.”

Neither Bournemouth nor Alton were asked to pay any money following their audits.

An HMRC spokeman said: “HMRC works to ensure employers are correctly operating their payroll system, so that everyone pays the right amount of tax.”