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.
Ask Yourself These Key Questions When Planning Your Estate
Almost no one can choose when he or she will die, but everyone can choose how his or her assets will be handled when that time comes. It’s really just a matter of having a current and effective estate plan in place before you go. Estate planning is a wide subject with many aspects; and…
Another Senator Says It’s Time to Go After the Wealthy
Another Senator Says It’s Time to Go After the Wealthy We all know that death and taxes are two certainties in life. However it seems that we should probably add the argument that the wealthy should pay more taxes to that list of certainties. According to reports, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont recently shared his…
Make Sure You Report All of Your 1099 Income
With the job market continually fluctuating, it seems that more and more people are creating their own jobs. Whether it’s starting your own company, doing some extra business on the side, or working as a freelance private contractor, a growing number of individuals are earning self-employment income. The extra income is surely nice, whether it’s…
Five Tips to help You Save On Your 2014 Income Tax Bill
Although there are still more than two months to go before we turn the page on the year 2014, the end of the tax year is still fast approaching. While it’s true that April 15 may seem like a long ways off, the fact is you only have those precious two months left to still…