Despite historic achievements in 2025, Rory McIlroy is absent from the New Year’s Honours List due to an ongoing HMRC tax investigation.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was considered a favorite alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for a knighthood by King Charles III. However, all three golfers were left out 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 was not listed among the 1,157 recipients on the New Year’s Honours List, which is initially reviewed by the Cabinet Office and then by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before submission to the Prime Minister and monarch. According to a report from the UK Telegraph, HMRC intervened, similarly to the delay seen with footballer David Beckham’s knighthood, who also had to wait several years.
Did Rory McIlroy Deliberately Avoid Paying Taxes?
Recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Rory McIlroy was reportedly involved in urban renewal projects in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Sheffield in 2013, which were considered legal tax reliefs and approved as such by authorities at the time. Later, HMRC deemed these projects to constitute tax avoidance and is currently investigating whether the schemes abused the ‘Business Premises Renovation Allowance’ to deliberately evade taxes. However, there is currently no evidence McIlroy intended to avoid tax payments.
As HMRC plays a role in decisions regarding knighthoods, such a suspicion or ongoing investigation can lead to rejection of the honor. Neither McIlroy nor the British government have commented on the matter so far.