Soccer Star Will Have to Go to Trial for Alleged Tax Evasion
The ongoing tax saga of soccer star Lionel Messi will continue. That news comes after a judge in Spain ruled that the Barcelona FC star would indeed have to stand trial for tax fraud charges in association with his many endorsement deals with foreign companies. The news comes just days after a report stated that Mr. Messi would not have to go to trial, and that only his father would face the courtroom.
Not So Fast
However, the Spanish judge ruled otherwise and said that Mr. Messi and his father should both have to go to trial. Even though his lawyers argued that Mr. Messi did not have any hands-on dealings with his endorsement contracts, the judge ruled that he “couldn’t have ignored” that a large part of his revenue was coming from foreign companies. If he is convicted, the soccer star could receive a sentence for as long as 22 months.
No Jail Time Likely
However, the good news for Mr. Messi is that even if he is found guilty of the charges he will most likely not spend any time behind bars. That’s because sentences for financial crimes shorter than two years are typically suspended according to Spanish law. In addition, Mr. Messi and his father have reportedly either already paid, or have agreed to pay, the missing tax money, plus interest.
Tax Planning Tips that Can Save You a Bundle
Let’s talk about some tax planning tips that can save you a bundle. Most high net worth individuals didn’t get wealth by sitting around and hoping to get rich. They have to earn it. That’s one of the biggest differences between just getting by and actually getting rich. And one of the things high net…
Millionaire Taxes- The Debate is On
Millionaire Taxes- The Debate is On. How many people are millionaires in the United States? According to recent statistics the number of people in the country with a net income of $1 million or more reached 9.63 million in 2013. That might sound like a lot, but compared to the total U.S. population that number…
The Time To Start Saving On Your Taxes Is Now
It’s tax time. What? April is still months away, isn’t it? While it’s true that that we still haven’t watched the big crystal ball drop in Times Square or even put up the Christmas tree, it is still time to think about your taxes. That’s because anyone who really wants to be prepared for taxes,…
IRS Announces New Efforts to Help Offshore Taxpayers Be in Compliance
IRS Announces New Efforts to Help Offshore Taxpayers Be in Compliance For years the IRS has been trying to track down U.S. citizens’ offshore assets in order to ensure that taxpayers are paying every penny they owe. However, these efforts have often affected many people who had no intention of ever skipping out on their…