The first part of a BBC1 Panorama programme featuring the Isle of Man will be aired at 6pm tonight (Sunday).

It is understood to focus on allegations of VAT abuse.

Filming for Panorama prompted the Manx government to convene a hastily arranged press conference last week when Chief Minister Howard Quayle confirmed the island was the focus of international media inquiries but insisted no evidence of wrong-doing had been found.

It later emerged the allegations concerning the abuse of VAT rules relating to the importation of corporate jets into the EU via the Isle of Man are based on information obtained following a cyber attack last year on global law firm Appleby.

Promising to put the world of offshore finance under the spotlight, the Panorama special is due to be screened on BBC1 over two days, with a 30-minute programme at 6pm on Sunday and an hour-long episode stating at 9pm on Monday.

At lhis press conference, the Chief Minister revealed that UK Treasury has been invited to conduct an assessment of the practice for aircraft importation and VAT treatment of leasing arrangements.

He said a continuing internal review by our own Customs and Excise division had found no evidence of wrong-doing or mistaken refunding of VAT.

Mr Quayle Mr Quayle said officers had been dealing with The Guardian, the BBC, leading German media and Japanese TV.

He has been interviewed for Panorama and it is not known whether that will be broadcast on Sunday’s or Monday’s programme - if it is at all.

He said the ICIJ had not presented the government with any evidence to substantiate its claims but that it was ’imperative’ that it take steps to defend the Isle of Man’s position.

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

Since 2011, Isle of Man Customs and Excise has raised more than 30 assessments for under-declared or over-claimed VAT against businesses in the aircraft leasing sector, involving about £4.7m of VAT. An internal review began in October last year. Of 262 live VAT registrations in the sector, Customs and Excise has so far conducted 33 audits with a further 13 under way.

Appleby, which has offices around the world including in Athol Street, Douglas, said he had been victim of a ’sophisticated cyber attack’ in May last year.

It said it was disappointed that the media was choosing to use information from material obtained illegally.