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.

Posted in
Why Are The Wealthy & Family Offices Investing in Private Companies?

Why Are The Wealthy & Family Offices Investing in Private Companies?

Why Are The Wealthy & Family Offices Investing in Private Companies? Well, it’s true that many private companies would gladly accept significant investment from a venture capitalist. However, there is a new trend emerging among wealthy investors that goes against the norm. Increasingly, private companies are turning to private investors and family office wealth to…

How to Lead in the Age of Agile During a Pandemic

How to Lead in the Age of Agile During a Pandemic

How to Lead in the Age of Agile During a Pandemic Have you heard of agile? It’s often a buzzword in the workplace. Agile started as a philosophy related to software development. But in the past few years, it has morphed into an entire work philosophy. It’s generally viewed as the ability to create and…

mutual respect, improve workplace

4 Ways to Improve Workplace Mutual Respect

Does workplace mutual respect matter during a pandemic?  Yes, it’s important with or without a pandemic, just like it is at home!  The new social distancing rules prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a proliferation of remote workers.  How do business leaders and organizations adjust to extraordinary circumstances never taught in business school? …

Possible PPP Legislation | 1099-B & W-4P

Update on Possible PPP Legislation Hello and welcome. This is Ron Cohen. And this is a tax updates podcast. I’m with the firm of Greenstein Rogoff, Olsen and company. My phone number is 510-797-8661. Call anytime we’re happy to talk and chat with anybody a little bit to see if we can help. This episode…