By Alex O’Loughlin
August 26 – The Spanish tax authorities will collect almost €50 million from star trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar for the 2013-14 tax year.
According to Libertad Digital, the taxes collected from the three highest earners in La Liga will be the same amount as collected from 15,723 workers each earning €22,000.
The amount of income tax owed has changed dramatically in recent years, with Madrid’s Ronaldo paying six times more than he did upon his arrival in Spain from Manchester United in 2009.
The abolition in 2010 of the Beckham Law – which previously allowed footballers to pay only 24.75% income tax on their salary for the first six fiscal years in Spain – halted the tax benefits available for those earning over €600,000-a-year.
Coupled with the historic tax rise in 2012, the majority of players in Spain’s top flight now hand more than half of their annual salary to the tax authorities.
The Treasury will receive €18.3 million from Ronaldo this year (pending confirmation of the Portuguese’s gross salary at Madrid), whilst Messi will pay €20 million of his €36 million gross salary in taxes.
La Liga newcomer Neymar, who signed a contract worth €16 million-a-year with Barca, will pay the Spanish tax authorities €8.9 million.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734805337labto1734805337ofdlr1734805337owedi1734805337sni@n1734805337ilhgu1734805337olo.x1734805337ela1734805337. Alex is assistant editor of www.laliganews.tv