We have seen players getting involved in tax issues and the biggest example of this is Lionel Messi. But the latest names which have been added in this pit are Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Everton’s Kevin Mirallas and Future Liverpool star Divock Origi.
All these players have bank accounts in the state of Luxembourg and the Belgian exchequer wants to make tax audits and check whether these players to check if they owe any tax to the state or not. These structures came in light in the month of November at the Lux Leaks affair.
The Red Devils have each a Luxembourg company that they are likely to use for advertising revenue. That income is taxed in Luxembourg for only 20 percent, while being fully taxed in Belgium (would). The tax structures are perfectly legal, but can Hazard and co. still spell disaster explains tax expert Michel Maus out.
“It used to gather only the board of directors in Luxembourg, but now the footballer in question can prove that the actual administration is done by the company in Luxembourg. That is of course much more difficult.”
A top fiscalist, who prefers to remain anonymous says that a lot of players for that reason do not stand a chance. “How do you as a player claim that you lead a company from Luxembourg, while everyone knows that you’re never there, and usually are not able to do that? Those are constructions butting each other once the taxman even one eye late fall.”
According to Michel Maus a Tax Law Professor, there is only one reason why players like Hazard and Courtois have a company in Luxembourg that is “Tax Evasion”. These Red Devils live abroad making them possible through the meshes of the net slip. But the taxman is still investigating how these internationals can still yet explain. The Study of BBI also oversees football agents and clubs.
To what extent thereby will look at the advantageous Security scheme for football clubs, which is a maximum of 678 euros per month for professional athletes, and to the fact that football clubs do not pay taxes on the income they derive from large broadcasting on television, is not clear.
The administration says that she is bound by professional secrecy and could not comment on individual cases. Eden Hazard struck last week his stardom in the English Chelsea with a new contract. He will earn 270,000 Euros per week. A sample contract that flank attacker puts at the top of the list of Belgian top earners.