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.
Does it Really Pay to Win the Lottery?
Everyone dreams of winning the lottery. The thought of taking home hundreds of millions of dollars is enough to get even the laziest people off the couch and into their local quick-e-mart to purchase some tickets. The country has been abuzz during the last several days over the huge Powerball jackpot that ultimately reached $1.6…
What Tax Changes Can You Expect Next Year?
With the New Year almost here that means several new tax changes are on the horizon. These changes are for 2016 and do not apply to the taxes you will be working on in the next few months before April’s deadline. However, it’s a good idea to know what to expect as the new tax…
Try These Tax Ideas for Your Business Before the Year Ends
Are you a business owner? Then chances are you’re already busy getting ready for your taxes. Personal taxes can be a pain for many people, but business taxes can be even more complicated. This is a very important time of year for just about every business because making the right moves now can help save…
What Should You Do if You Can’t Afford to Pay Back-Taxes?
Paying taxes is no fun. Owing back taxes and not being able to pay them is much worse. Many people get into tax trouble when they end up owing money to the IRS and they don’t have the means to pay it off. This can cause a lot of stress, anxiety and even fear or…