Messi makes late 10 mln euros payment

Over the past few days, Messi has prepared complementary tax returns for 2010 and 2011 and has paid the taxman an additional €10 million, reports 'La Vanguardia.com'.

Sources connected to the case have confirmed to 'La Vanguardia' that the player's payments correspond to taxes owed for image rights income in 2010 and 2011. They have also said that the payments were made through a complementary tax return, which consists of a correction to the tax return originally submitted to the tax authorities.

According to the same sources, Messi is also looking to strike an agreement with the tax authorities for the sums which it claims were not paid for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 financial years. The player has accepted that he must pay taxes on his income from image rights and wishes to clear up any issues with his tax returns for the three years under investigation.

Barcelona's financial crimes office filed a complaint against the player and his father, Jorge Messi, on 12th June accusing them of tax fraud. The Messis are currently accused of three crimes against the tax authorities corresponding to the 2007, 2008 and 2009 financial years, when they are said to have use tax havens to avoid paying over €4 million corresponding to income from image rights.

Messi is set to appear in court in the town of Gavá near Barcelona on 17th September, although his lawyers assure that the Barça player "scrupulously complies with Spanish legislation".


/Marca.Com/