The spotlight in the HSBC affair last night fell on links between multi-millionaire Richard Caring and Tina Green – the wife of his close friend and billionaire clothing magnate Sir Philip Green. Socialite Mr Caring – who owns a string of London restaurants including The Ivy and the nightclub Annabel’s – visited a Geneva branch of the bank and withdrew £2.25million in cash. The transaction took place in September 2005 and was not flagged up by the lender. Scroll down for video . Friends: Sir Philip Green, Richard Caring, his wife Jackie Caring and Bill Clinton at a charity event in 2005. A spokesman for Sir Philip strongly denied his wife Tina had any link to Swiss HSBC accounts . The bank recorded only that Mr Caring planned to deposit the money ‘in a new a/c (account) with a separate institution in Geneva’. He last night insisted the money was for a business transaction with people who did not want to use HSBC. But according to bank files seen by the BBC’s Panorama and The Guardian, funds in the Swiss account originated from accounts in the tax haven of Monaco. These accounts, it is alleged, were controlled by Mr Caring but were held ‘in trust’ under the name of Tina Green, Sir Philip’s wife. However, a spokesman for Sir Philip said the allegations about his wife were untrue, adding: ‘No such account exists, or ever has done in the past.’ Denial: A spokesman for Sir Philip, pictured with his wife Tina, said: 'There are a number of serious inaccuracies and mistakes in the Guardian story' Leaked records from HSBC note that ‘RC goes to great lengths to maintain discretion’, and in July 2005, he had fallen out with the bank over a ‘currency shortfall’ on one account. After a ‘lengthy and challenging conversation’, the bank had been aware Mr Caring could send ‘funds from Monaco at a moment’s notice... However, they would be accompanied by instructions to close the account. He expects us to consider his global relationship.’ In the event, the bank recorded: ‘As we know, until now (Caring) has hesitated from holding the vast majority of his cash assets in his own name, preferring to accept the offer of Mrs Green that she holds them in trust on his behalf.’ The bank also recorded that Mr Caring, 62, held some £65.7million in offshore accounts and was also taking profits from an ‘anonymous’ 22 per cent holding in BHS. Mr Caring, a former Labour and Tory donor, has claimed hereditary ‘non-domiciled’ tax status through his US-born father, an American GI who settled in England after the Second World War. This, it has been suggested, enabled Mr Caring not to disclose the existence of his Swiss or Monaco bank accounts to the UK tax authorities, so he could avoid taxes on capital held abroad. The leaked files also show that Mr Caring used his tax free account to transfer $1million to Bill and Hillary Clinton’s charitable foundation – seemingly in return for the ex-US President’s attendance at a lavish Russian charity ball in 2005. The Guardian reports that HSBC’s notes contain an instruction to ‘transfer [$1m] to Bill Clinton’s Foundation as a contribution following his involvement in the charity function.’ Mr Caring has been friends with Sir Philip for many years and gave him a red Ferrari F430 for his 50th birthday. He once said of his relationship with the tycoon, 62: ‘I speak to him every day. We’re more than friends – I think we’d do anything for each other. We’re like brothers.’ Sir Philip and his wife are worth more than £5billion and split their time between London and a Monaco apartment. Mr Caring’s International Clothing Designs firm still supplies Sir Philip’s Topshop chain. Last month the Daily Mail contacted Sir Philip to ask about rumours he had been listed on the stolen HSBC computer disc as having an offshore account in Geneva. He replied: ‘For the record I have never had a Swiss bank account.’ He did not mention the Monaco account that it is now claimed is controlled by Mr Caring even though it is in the name of Tina Green. Spotlight: HSBC is facing scrutiny after a vast cache of Swiss bank account documents was leaked . Last night Mr Caring told the Mail he was angry at ‘insinuations’ regarding his dealings with HSBC. He insisted he has had ‘non-dom’ status for many years and it was a fact known to the UK tax authorities. ‘The revenue people have always known my non-dom status. I had some £100million in dividends from BHS at one stage and I paid £33million in regard to that matter and the revenue [HMRC] was happy that I didn’t owe a single penny more in tax. ‘The HSBC documents that have been widely referred to by the Guardian and others have been known to [HMRC] since 2010 and have not resulted in any taxable issues. ‘The insinuation that I would or want to evade tax is totally wrong. I have also never bullied the HSBC bank in terms of my dealings with them. Yes, I did withdraw more than £2 million from the bank and that was for a business transaction. ‘I appreciate it was a large amount of money but I was put in that position at the time because the people I was dealing with did not want to use HSBC in a particular transaction. ‘It was a business matter and I have not bullied anyone.’ Last night it emerged that Sir Philip was considering legal action against The Guardian in relation to claims about the HSBC row. A spokesman said: ‘There are a number of serious inaccuracies and mistakes in the Guardian story. People are allowed to have bank accounts abroad and people should ask some basic questions. ‘For instance, if you have a bank account in Switzerland and access to other accounts in that country there why on earth would you transfer funds from somewhere like Monaco. ‘For a number of reasons – including currency conversion – that would not make any sense at all. ‘People writing about the HSBC issue and Swiss bank accounts should be very careful as there has not been any impropriety.’
Focus on links between Richard Caring and Sir Philip Green's wife Tina .
Nightclub tycoon Mr Caring withdrew £2.25m in cash in Geneva in 2005 .
He said: 'Insinuation that I would or want to evade tax is totally wrong'
Bank files appear to show money in account originated from Monaco .
Monaco accounts, it is alleged, were 'held in trust' in Tina Green's name .
But Sir Philip strongly denies the claims, and is considering legal action .
'No such account exists, or ever has done in the past', spokesman said .
The spotlight in the HSBC affair last night fell on links between multi-millionaire Richard Caring and Tina Green – the wife of his close friend and billionaire clothing magnate Sir Philip Green. Socialite Mr Caring – who owns a string of London restaurants including The Ivy and the nightclub Annabel’s – visited a Geneva branch of the bank and withdrew £2.25million in cash. The transaction took place in September 2005 and was not flagged up by the lender. Scroll down for video . Friends: Sir Philip Green, Richard Caring, his wife Jackie Caring and Bill Clinton at a charity event in 2005. A spokesman for Sir Philip strongly denied his wife Tina had any link to Swiss HSBC accounts . The bank recorded only that Mr Caring planned to deposit the money ‘in a new a/c (account) with a separate institution in Geneva’. He last night insisted the money was for a business transaction with people who did not want to use HSBC. But according to bank files seen by the BBC’s Panorama and The Guardian, funds in the Swiss account originated from accounts in the tax haven of Monaco. These accounts, it is alleged, were controlled by Mr Caring but were held ‘in trust’ under the name of Tina Green, Sir Philip’s wife. However, a spokesman for Sir Philip said the allegations about his wife were untrue, adding: ‘No such account exists, or ever has done in the past.’ Denial: A spokesman for Sir Philip, pictured with his wife Tina, said: 'There are a number of serious inaccuracies and mistakes in the Guardian story' Leaked records from HSBC note that ‘RC goes to great lengths to maintain discretion’, and in July 2005, he had fallen out with the bank over a ‘currency shortfall’ on one account. After a ‘lengthy and challenging conversation’, the bank had been aware Mr Caring could send ‘funds from Monaco at a moment’s notice... However, they would be accompanied by instructions to close the account. He expects us to consider his global relationship.’ In the event, the bank recorded: ‘As we know, until now (Caring) has hesitated from holding the vast majority of his cash assets in his own name, preferring to accept the offer of Mrs Green that she holds them in trust on his behalf.’ The bank also recorded that Mr Caring, 62, held some £65.7million in offshore accounts and was also taking profits from an ‘anonymous’ 22 per cent holding in BHS. Mr Caring, a former Labour and Tory donor, has claimed hereditary ‘non-domiciled’ tax status through his US-born father, an American GI who settled in England after the Second World War. This, it has been suggested, enabled Mr Caring not to disclose the existence of his Swiss or Monaco bank accounts to the UK tax authorities, so he could avoid taxes on capital held abroad. The leaked files also show that Mr Caring used his tax free account to transfer $1million to Bill and Hillary Clinton’s charitable foundation – seemingly in return for the ex-US President’s attendance at a lavish Russian charity ball in 2005. The Guardian reports that HSBC’s notes contain an instruction to ‘transfer [$1m] to Bill Clinton’s Foundation as a contribution following his involvement in the charity function.’ Mr Caring has been friends with Sir Philip for many years and gave him a red Ferrari F430 for his 50th birthday. He once said of his relationship with the tycoon, 62: ‘I speak to him every day. We’re more than friends – I think we’d do anything for each other. We’re like brothers.’ Sir Philip and his wife are worth more than £5billion and split their time between London and a Monaco apartment. Mr Caring’s International Clothing Designs firm still supplies Sir Philip’s Topshop chain. Last month the Daily Mail contacted Sir Philip to ask about rumours he had been listed on the stolen HSBC computer disc as having an offshore account in Geneva. He replied: ‘For the record I have never had a Swiss bank account.’ He did not mention the Monaco account that it is now claimed is controlled by Mr Caring even though it is in the name of Tina Green. Spotlight: HSBC is facing scrutiny after a vast cache of Swiss bank account documents was leaked . Last night Mr Caring told the Mail he was angry at ‘insinuations’ regarding his dealings with HSBC. He insisted he has had ‘non-dom’ status for many years and it was a fact known to the UK tax authorities. ‘The revenue people have always known my non-dom status. I had some £100million in dividends from BHS at one stage and I paid £33million in regard to that matter and the revenue [HMRC] was happy that I didn’t owe a single penny more in tax. ‘The HSBC documents that have been widely referred to by the Guardian and others have been known to [HMRC] since 2010 and have not resulted in any taxable issues. ‘The insinuation that I would or want to evade tax is totally wrong. I have also never bullied the HSBC bank in terms of my dealings with them. Yes, I did withdraw more than £2 million from the bank and that was for a business transaction. ‘I appreciate it was a large amount of money but I was put in that position at the time because the people I was dealing with did not want to use HSBC in a particular transaction. ‘It was a business matter and I have not bullied anyone.’ Last night it emerged that Sir Philip was considering legal action against The Guardian in relation to claims about the HSBC row. A spokesman said: ‘There are a number of serious inaccuracies and mistakes in the Guardian story. People are allowed to have bank accounts abroad and people should ask some basic questions. ‘For instance, if you have a bank account in Switzerland and access to other accounts in that country there why on earth would you transfer funds from somewhere like Monaco. ‘For a number of reasons – including currency conversion – that would not make any sense at all. ‘People writing about the HSBC issue and Swiss bank accounts should be very careful as there has not been any impropriety.’
on links between multi-millionaire Richard Caring and withdrew £2.25million in cash. The Philip strongly denied his wife Tina had any link funds in the Swiss account originated from accounts, it is alleged, were controlled by Mr Caring but were held ‘in trust’ under the name of spokesman for Sir Philip said the allegations about his wife were untrue, adding: ‘No such account exists, or ever has done in the past.’ issues. ‘The insinuation that I would or want to evade tax is totally wrong. I have also never was considering legal action against The Guardian