Short and uncertain careers
Injury, selection, transfer and contract changes can alter income more quickly than in a conventional career.
ElanTax Professional Sports Advisory
Tax, accounting and financial
control for professional sports people.
Specialist support for professional footballers, former players, overseas players and their families—helping you manage tax obligations, understand complex income and maintain financial control during and beyond a sporting career.
Strictly confidential
Independent accountancy and tax support
London-based professional team
Clear information. Defined responsibilities. Better control.Support coordinated around your career, companies, family and professional advisory team.
Specialist sports accounting
A sporting career creates financial challenges that ordinary accounting may not address.
Professional sport can create significant earnings at a young age, several income streams, international movement and financial decisions that must be made quickly. Salary and bonuses may sit alongside sponsorships, appearances, social-media income, property, company activity and overseas interests.
ElanTax provides tax, accounting, business and financial-control services for professional sportspeople. We organise the financial information, maintain the accounting records, forecast tax obligations and coordinate with agents, solicitors and regulated financial advisers so that responsibilities remain clear.
- One clear view of personal, company and commercial financial activity.
- Tax liabilities forecast before payment deadlines arrive.
- Regular reporting designed to make financial information easier to understand.
- Support that continues through transfers, retirement and life after sport.
Why financial control matters
High income does not automatically create lasting financial security.
The aim is not exaggerated wealth messaging. It is disciplined accounting, proper tax compliance and financial visibility.
Several income sources
Employment, endorsements, appearances, media work and company income may have different reporting requirements.
Large future tax payments
Gross income is not the same as spendable income. Tax needs to be forecast and reserved before funds are committed.
Cross-border complexity
Transfers, overseas income and family relocation may create residence and double-taxation considerations.
What ElanTax can support
Professional sports tax, accounting and financial control.
A coordinated service covering routine compliance, complex income and the practical reporting needed to stay in control.
Personal Tax & Self Assessment
Preparation and review of personal tax returns, employment information, additional income and relevant disclosures.
Company Accounts & Corporation Tax
Bookkeeping, annual accounts, corporation tax support and reporting for genuine commercial companies.
Tax Forecasting & Payment Reserves
Forward estimates, tax calendars and practical reserve planning to reduce unexpected payment pressure.
Tax payment controlSponsorship & Commercial Income
Accounting and tax support for sponsorships, endorsements, appearances, media work and digital income.
Commercial income supportImage Rights Accounting
Support focused on commercial substance, proper agreements, evidence, valuation, records and correct tax treatment.
Image rights tax adviceOverseas Income & UK Residence
UK arrival and departure support, overseas income review and coordination with advisers in other jurisdictions.
Advice for overseas playersProperty & Investment Tax
Tax and accounting advice for property ownership, rental income, gains, business investments and record keeping.
Property tax for sportspeopleConsolidated Financial Reporting
Clear periodic reporting that brings together income, expenditure, companies, tax reserves and important deadlines.
Career Transition & Life After Sport
New financial structures for retirement, coaching, media work, business ownership and changing income patterns.
Plan for life after sportRelevant professional sports experience
Professional sport experience with chartered accountancy discipline.
Shakar Elahi FCCA spent five years with Mark McCormack’s IMG and has experience advising professional footballers who played in England. He later founded ElanTax, combining knowledge of the professional sports environment with accountancy, tax, property and business advisory experience.
This factual background does not imply any current association with, endorsement by or sponsorship from IMG.
5 yearsWith Mark McCormack’s IMG
FCCAChartered certified accountancy discipline
UKExperience advising footballers who played in England
IntegratedTax, accounts, business and financial-control perspective
How we work
A confidential process built around clarity and defined responsibility.
The exact scope is agreed with each client and can be coordinated with the existing professional team.
Confidential Consultation
We discuss your role, income sources, current arrangements, priorities and which advisers are already involved.
Financial & Tax Review
We identify reporting gaps, deadlines, company requirements, tax exposure and areas needing stronger control.
Structured Action Plan
Responsibilities, records, reporting frequency, tax reserves and adviser coordination are clearly agreed.
Ongoing Oversight
We maintain the agreed accounting and tax work and adapt the plan as income or career circumstances change.
Part of the professional team
Working alongside agents and authorised advisers.
ElanTax keeps tax, accounting and financial control within a clearly defined professional role. With the client’s authority, we coordinate relevant information so each adviser can focus on their own specialist responsibilities.
Agents
ElanTax supports the player’s tax, accounts and financial control while the agent remains responsible for representation, transfers, contracts and commercial opportunities.
Solicitors
We provide relevant accounting and tax information alongside the solicitor’s legal advice on agreements, rights, structures, property and other formal matters.
Regulated Advisers
We coordinate tax figures and financial reporting with authorised professionals responsible for regulated investment, pension, insurance or financial-planning advice.
Family & Business Managers
Where properly authorised, communication and reporting can be structured for family members or trusted people involved in the client’s financial affairs.
Clear professional boundaries
ElanTax provides accountancy and tax advisory services. We do not provide regulated investment advice, legal advice, player representation or contract negotiation. Where appropriate, we work alongside authorised financial advisers, solicitors, agents and other professional advisers, with each adviser remaining responsible for their own specialist area.
Explore specialist support
Professional Sports Advisory services.
Each supporting page explains a specific stage, income type or professional relationship in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about sports tax and accounting.
These answers are general. Advice should always be based on the client’s full circumstances and current tax rules.
When should you speak to ElanTax?
Early advice is particularly useful before an important financial or career decision is completed.
- Before a commercial, sponsorship or image-related agreement is signed.
- Before an international transfer, UK arrival or departure.
- Before establishing a company or starting a new business venture.
- Before retirement, a major property decision or a change in income pattern.
Do professional footballers need a specialist accountant?
A specialist accountant can be valuable where income includes salary, bonuses, sponsorships, appearances, companies, overseas interests or property. The role is to organise the records, meet reporting obligations, forecast liabilities and make financial information easier to understand.
Can ElanTax work with my existing agent and financial adviser?
Yes. With the client’s authority, ElanTax can coordinate relevant tax and accounting information with agents, solicitors, regulated financial advisers and other professionals while each adviser remains responsible for their own area.
Can you advise an overseas player before moving to the UK?
ElanTax can assist with UK tax residence, arrival planning, registration, UK and overseas income, property and coordination with overseas advisers. Early advice is important before relocation and commercial arrangements are completed.
Are image rights companies always tax-efficient?
No. The treatment depends on the facts and the commercial substance of the arrangement. Proper agreements, evidence, valuation, records and tax compliance are essential. An image rights company should not be created solely on the assumption that it will reduce tax.
Does ElanTax provide investment advice or manage a player’s money?
No. ElanTax provides accountancy, tax, business and financial-control support. We do not provide regulated investment advice or wealth-management services, but we can work alongside authorised professionals.
Is the first conversation confidential?
Yes. All enquiries are treated in strict confidence. Please do not send detailed banking, medical, tax-document or contract information by email. A brief initial outline is sufficient.
Speak to ElanTax about your tax, accounts and financial control.
Professional, independent and confidential support for sportspeople and their advisers.
