By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
June 18 – Seemingly dispensable at his club PSG, out of the Copa America and accused of rape, the career of Neymar is sliding rapidly and on Monday the Brazil star was faced with even more legal entanglements as local justices in froze 36 of his properties for alleged tax evasion.
The move from the Brazilian tax authorities comes to ensure that Neymar pays what he owes the taxman, according to Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo. They are looking for about €15.9 million from the player and among the properties that have been frozen are a mansion in Jardim Acapulco in Guarujá and three flats in Santa Catarina, worth a combined €4.6 million. An apartment in Sao Paulo with an estimated worth of €3.4 million has also been targeted.
Twenty eight smaller properties and companies in Santos, Sao Paulo, Guarujá, Praia Grande and São Vicente complete the list. The freeze allows the use of the properties but prevent them from being sold.
The collection suit goes back to unpaid taxes over Neymar’s transfer from Santos to FC Barcelona. At the time €40 million was siphoned off to a company of Neymar’s father. In Brazil companies pay 17% in tax on their income whereas individuals must pay 27.5%.
According to the report of the Board of Tax Appeals (Carf), Neymar shields “his assets from other persons, physically and legally” and the amounts are “redirected to other individuals or companies in a way that conceals the real beneficiary of income.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714191700labto1714191700ofdlr1714191700owedi1714191700sni@o1714191700fni1714191700