Rupert Grint, the actor best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, has been ordered to pay £1.8 million in taxes after losing a court case against the UK’s tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ). The dispute centered around his tax return from 2011-2012, which had been under investigation for some time.
The main issue was a £4.5 million payment Rupert received from a company that manages his business affairs. His lawyers argued that this payment was a “capital asset” connected to rights, records, and goodwill from his acting work. They believed it should be taxed under capital gains, which typically has a lower tax rate. However, HMRC argued that the payment was actually income and should be taxed at the higher income tax rate.
Recently, Judge Harriet Morgan sided with HMRC, stating that the payment “derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr. Grint” and was correctly classified as income. This means Rupert is now required to pay an additional £1.8 million in taxes.
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Rupert’s legal team had appealed the decision, insisting he had already paid the appropriate taxes. But the tribunal didn’t agree, concluding that the payment wasn’t a capital asset as his team claimed.
This isn’t the first time Rupert has faced tax issues. In 2019, he lost another case involving a £1 million tax return.
Now 36 years old, Rupert found worldwide fame at just 12 when he first appeared as Ron Weasley in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” He starred in all eight films of the series between 2001 and 2011. After Harry Potter, he continued acting in films like “Into the White” and “Knock at the Cabin,” as well as in television and theater. He’s currently starring in the psychological thriller “Servant” on Apple TV+, a role he’s held for four years.
Despite his successful career, Rupert’s ongoing tax challenges highlight how complicated managing finances can be for high-profile individuals with substantial earnings.
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