The UK tax collector is continuing its crackdown on tax avoidance within football.

Former Rangers stars, who benefited from a controversial tax avoidance scheme, have just days left to come up with a payback plan – or face legal action, according to the Daily Record.

HMRC is trying to recoup millions of pounds from Employee Benefits Trusts (EBT), which were operated by the Ibrox side. The UK tax collector won a court battle against the Rangers stars after a Supreme Court ruling last July said that EBT payments made when Sir David Murray was chairman were not loans but earnings that should have been taxed.

According to reports, the bill stands at £24 million ($32 million) – half of the £48 million that Rangers paid out in EBT payments to directors, managers, players and staff.

HMRC has reportedly sent out notices requesting payback from those who were part of the schemes. It has set a deadline of Thursday to open up negotiations on a settlement deal.

Many former Rangers stars are due to be hit by the payback notices, including Stefan Klos and Barry Ferguson. Former club owner Sir David Murray is also due to be hit with a reported bill of £3 million.

This is part of a strategic tax crackdown by HMRC, which is also targeting users of disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes in thousands of other businesses. This publication reported in April that HMRC is investigating 181 footballers at 51 Premier League and Football League clubs in a huge probe into tax avoidance linked to image rights payments.