66

The Times (paywalled) says that last year, the BBC paid 66 of its 96 highest-earning presenters £20.8 million via personal service companies.

The Times has been locked in a FOI battle with the paper, and the revelation comes after a ruling from the Office of the Information Commissioner. In 2012, the BBC said it would move long-term presenters away from PSC payment. It told the Times the practice had never been an attempt to avoid tax or national insurance; it reported the deals to HMRC and said that its contracts with freelancers reflected their obligation to ensure that they paid the correct amount of tax.