Nearly £800m in VAT has been refunded since 2011 on corporate jets imported into the European Union via the Isle of Man.

Figures were released by the Manx Treasury following a Freedom of Information request.

They show that the total amount refunded was £790.1m, with 100% refunds given for every one of the 231 claims submitted since 2011-12.

In the last financial year, 2016-17, 31 claims were submitted and £101.5m of VAT was refunded.

A two-part Panorama programme, being screened this Sunday and Monday, will feature the Isle of Man and allegations of VAT abuse relating to the importation of corporate jets into the EU via the Isle of Man.

An on-going review by Customs and Excise has found no evidence of wrong-doing or mistaken refunding of VAT.

But the UK Treasury has been invited to conduct an assessment of the practice for aircraft importation, with a particular focus on the VAT treatment of leasing arrangements.

Up until 2011, corporate jets over 8,000kg were zero-rated for VAT but then became VAT-able - but you could claim it all back if you used the aircraft for your business.

The island follows the same policy, rules and laws as the UK for VAT treatment of importation of aircraft into the EU.

Panorama’s exposé is based on investigations by an international consortium of journalists into material obtained by a cyber attack last year on global law firm Appleby, which has an office on Athol Street, Douglas.