Rupert Grint ordered to pay £1.8m in taxes after legal dispute
The famous actor, known for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, has been instructed to pay £1.8m in taxes following a disagreement with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This decision was made in 2019, when HMRC questioned one of his tax returns.
HMRC contested £4.5m of income received by Grint during the 2011-12 tax year, arguing that it should have been taxed as regular income rather than a capital asset.
The 36-year-old actor, who was the sole shareholder of a company managing his business affairs, claimed that the payment was related to residual income and bonuses from the Harry Potter films.
Despite his lawyers arguing that he should only pay capital gains tax at a rate of 10%, HMRC insisted that the money should be taxed as income, subject to a higher tax rate of 52%.
Judge Harriet Morgan ruled in favor of HMRC, dismissing Grint’s appeal and stating that the money « derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr. Grint, » which was « otherwise realized » as income.
This is not the first time the actor’s tax affairs have been the subject of legal proceedings. Grint previously lost a court case in 2016 regarding a £1m tax refund.
In this case, a tax tribunal judge rejected Grint’s appeal against an HMRC block on him using a change in accounting dates to shield his earnings from a higher tax rate.
Throughout his career, Grint has appeared in various films, TV shows, and theater productions, including the Harry Potter series, « Into the White, » and « Knock at the Cabin. »
Grint has not yet commented on the recent ruling.
- Rupert Grint ordered to pay £1.8m in taxes after legal dispute with HMRC
- Disagreement over £4.5m of income received during 2011-12 tax year
- Grint claims payment was related to residual income and bonuses from Harry Potter films
- Judge rules in favor of HMRC, dismissing Grint’s appeal
- Grint previously lost a court case in 2016 involving a £1m tax refund
