The Malta Independent 23 April 2024, Tuesday
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Malta-based offshore company named in Arsenal forward’s tax evasion investigation

Wednesday, 2 November 2016, 16:54 Last update: about 8 years ago

An offshore company based in Malta has been named in an ongoing investigation by the Spanish Inland Revenue Department into possible tax fraud committed by Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez during his time at Barcelona, international media report.

The Chilean stands accused of attempting to defraud the Inland Revenue of €983,443 (£888,736) during his time at Barcelona.

According to El Periodico, the Catalan newspaper, Sanchez is being accused of "actively withholding" taxes, with relation his image rights.

Prosecutor Miguel Angel Perez de Gregorio has revealed Alexis failed to include income from the transfer of his image rights in both 2012 and 2013.

Instead, he is accused of "simulating the transfer of those rights" to an offshore company based in Malta, Numidia Trading.

He is alleged to have failed to declare €587,677 in 2012 and €395,766 in 2013, without including details of the company in his declaration, media report

It is a similar situation to that which saw both Lionel Messi and his father found guilty of defrauding Spanish tax authorities of €4.1million (£3.5million) in the period between 2007 and 2009.

 

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