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It’s been a bad month for Portuguese prodigy Cristiano Ronaldo.
Dropping out of the World Cup was almost certainly not the tonic needed to soften the blow of a colossal £16.4 million fine for tax evasion.
As well as coughing up that hefty sum, Ronaldo is also expected to receive a two-year suspended prison sentence from the Spanish authorities.
While he might be a whizz with a football, it seems some bad number crunching has led to a very expensive penalty.
Ronaldo isn’t the first high profile name to be hit with tax-related problems, however.
Let’s take a look at some others and find out what they should be looking for in an accountant to make sure all the drama stays firmly on the pitch or stage.
Lionel Messi
Another star footballer who fell foul of questionable accounting decisions.
In 2016 the Barcelona striker, along with his father, was found guilty of defrauding Spanish authorities of around £3.6 million by using offshore companies in tax havens, including Belize and Panama.
He was fined £1.5 million, while a 21-month prison sentence was changed to a £223,000 fine by the courts. His dad’s 15-month sentence was also replaced by a fine.
A good accountant will always encourage full transparency when it comes to financial affairs and ensure their clients are kept in the loop when it comes to their own money.
Jimmy Carr
It was no laughing matter for comedian Jimmy when in 2012 he was implicated in a legal tax avoidance scheme, which would see a huge reduction in his tax bill – reportedly to just 1% of his annual income.
It’s no secret that the role of an accountant is to help their clients reduce tax obligations. But a really good accountant will always ensure these methods are not only above board but also satisfy all ethical requirements.
Wesley Snipes
The Hollywood heavyweight was sentenced to three years in prison following a scandal that saw him fail to file federal income tax returns worth millions of dollars.
A professional and expert accountant should be available to provide sound financial advice to clients on all money matters – and assist with making decisions that ensure audits are a painless experience.
If you’re a dab-hand with figures and looking for a new career in the Accounting sector, why not head over to s1jobs right now to check out the latest vacancies?