Messi appeal 21 month prison sentence tax fraud

You're referring to the recent news about Lionel Messi's tax fraud case!

On June 21, 2021, a Spanish court upheld a 21-month prison sentence for Lionel Messi and his father, Jorge Messi, for tax fraud. The sentence was handed down after the court found that the pair had failed to pay taxes on Messi's image rights between 2007 and 2009.

Here's a brief summary of the case:

• In 2013, Messi and his father were accused of evading taxes on Messi's image rights, which were estimated to be worth around €4 million (approximately $4.5 million USD) per year.
• The prosecution argued that Messi and his father had failed to declare these earnings and had not paid the corresponding taxes.
• In 2017, Messi and his father were found guilty of tax fraud and were sentenced to 21 months in prison and a fine of €2 million (approximately $2.2 million USD).
• Messi and his father appealed the sentence, arguing that they had not intentionally committed tax fraud and that the sentence was excessive.
• On June 21, 2021, the Spanish Supreme Court upheld the original sentence, rejecting Messi's appeal.

It's worth noting that Messi and his father are unlikely to serve the full 21-month sentence, as it's common in Spain for sentences of less than two years to be suspended or reduced. Additionally, Messi has already paid a significant amount of back taxes and fines, which may also reduce the sentence.

This case highlights the importance of tax compliance and the consequences of failing to declare income and pay taxes.