Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to an ongoing HMRC tax inquiry.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite for knighthood by King Charles III alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, also from England. However, all three golfers were overlooked this year. In 2025, McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, becoming the first European to do so. He also shone at the 2025 Ryder Cup, helping Team Europe secure their first away victory since 2012 at Bethpage State Park near New York City.
Nevertheless, McIlroy’s name did not appear among the 1,157 honorees on the New Year’s Honours List, which is first reviewed by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the UK tax authority, before being submitted to the Prime Minister and Monarch. According to a report by the British Telegraph, the HMRC reportedly intervened, similar to an incident involving footballer David Beckham years prior, who had to wait several years for his knighthood.
Did Rory McIlroy Intentionally Avoid Paying Taxes?
Recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, McIlroy was involved in urban regeneration projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were considered legal tax relief efforts and initially recognized as such by authorities. Later, HMRC determined these projects constituted tax avoidance and are currently investigating whether they exploited the “Business Premises Renovation Allowance” scheme to deliberately avoid tax payments. There is currently no evidence suggesting McIlroy intentionally sought to evade taxes.
However, since HMRC plays a role in knighthood decisions, such an investigation can lead to rejection of the honor. To date, neither Rory McIlroy nor the British government have commented on this matter.