Tax pressure and celebrities in the spotlight: Shakira, Cristiano Ronaldo and El Rubius’ problems with the treasury in Spain

The youtuber El Rubius, the Juventus footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and the Colombian singer Shakira are three of the celebrities who had problems with the treasury in Spain.

In the last days it was known that the millionaire Spanish youtuber Rubén Doblas, better known as El Rubius, He announced to his followers that as a result of the siege by the Spanish treasury and fed up with paying taxes, he will leave his country to go to reside in Andorra.

The content creator thus joins a list of celebrities who came into conflict with the treasury of that country, among them the Colombian singer Shakira and the Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, currently a Juventus player in Italy.. Also the Argentine star of Barcelona, Lionel Messi.

El Rubius recognized his desire to emigrate to Andorra in a live broadcast on Twitch last weekend before thousands of followers. When his community asked him if the motivation that led him to move out of Spain was the advantageous taxation of the Principality, Rubius acknowledged that it is a plus.

“And what do I know, I have literally 10 years of my YouTube career paying here. I know there will be people who criticize me for that. But people speak without knowing. I know it’s going to happen, but I don’t care“Said the youtuber after announcing his decision to emigrate from Spain to Andorra after considering himself besieged by the Spanish treasury and by the high tax burden in that country.

According to a Business Insider post, El Rubius has more than 8 million followers on Twitch and close to 40 million on YouTube. It is about one of the youtubers e influencers best known and sought after in Spain.

All those citizens who pay taxes in Spain and who annually enter incomes of more than 300,000 euros have a tax of 47 percent

In this context, his future transfer to Andorra unleashed a new controversy on social networks, in which he was accused of not being supportive by not wanting to pay his taxes in his country of origin.

According to the publication, Income tax (IRPF) in Spain can tax 47% of what a person earns in a year. In that sense, he remarked that currently, and for the year 2021, this tax has six sections.

The first tranche, which ranges from 0 to 12,450 euros in annual income, is taxed at 19 percent. The second, up to 20,200 euros, with 24%. The third, up to 35,200, by 30%. The fourth, up to 60,000, 37%. And the fifth, up to 300,000 euros, 45%. But there is a sixth section.

Meanwhile, all those citizens who pay taxes in Spain and who annually enter incomes of more than 300,000 euros have a tax of 47 percent.

A recent estimate from the SocialBlade portal revealed that El Rubius could be billing 4.3 million euros a year

However, in Andorra the sections are much more lax. “If a person earns less than 24,000 euros a year, he will pay 0% in taxes. For the tranche that ranges from those 24,000 euros to 40,000 euros per year, you will pay 5%. And only what you enter from those 40,000 euros will be paid at 10%. While in Spain the tax burden on a large fortune can exceed 50%, in Andorra it remains at 10% ”, the publication detailed.

He also highlighted that according to a recent estimate by the SocialBlade portal, it revealed that El Rubius could be earning 4.3 million euros a year. And that of the 4.3 million that would be entering per year, the first five tranches are applied to 300,000 euros of their income – from 19% to 45% – and from that amount, 47% of the 4 million remaining.

While in Spain the tax burden on a large fortune can exceed 50%, in Andorra it remains at 10 percent

Meanwhile, he remarked that with Spanish taxation, The Rubius could pay about 1.9 million euros, while in Andorra it would only have to face the payment of 400,000 euros in taxes.

It should be noted that Andorra was no longer considered a tax haven in 2018. Lawyers specialized in digital law, consulted by Business Insider, warned of the risk faced by youtubers who went to Andorra if they are not strict adapting to their new address.

Shakira and Ronaldo, two cases of celebrities who sought to pay less taxes

According to the Spanish version of the business site, Colombian singer Shakira is another of the world figures who had conflicts with the Spanish treasury.

According to the publication, the Colombian singer said that she had not moved from Nassau (Bahamas) to Spain until the end of 2014 and that the Spanish treasury did not believe her.

The Spanish Tax Agency estimated that Shakira did not pay her corresponding taxes when residing in that country between 2011 and 2014 (REUTERS / Shannon Stapleton) 

In that sense, he remarked that in 2018 a millionaire debt emerged that the Colombian singer had with the Treasury.

The Tax Agency estimated that Shakira had not paid her corresponding taxes when residing in Spain between the years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. However, the artist presented a residence permit in the Bahamas dated 2007.

What he presented The Tax Agency, for its part, was a battery of tests that showed how the international singer had tried to evade her tax obligations by ensuring she did not reside in Spain.

The newspaper El País published a report detailing how the tax inspector came to know that the singer went to French classes, what her Zumba teacher was called, how many times she went to the hairdresser a week and even the pseudonym with the that was presented at a medical clinic.

Cristiano Ronaldo was accused in Spain of defrauding 14.8 million euros in four tax crimes between 2010 and 2014 (REUTERS / Daniele Mascolo) 

With respect to Cristiano RonaldoIt can be noted that he did not randomly choose his destination in Italy after long periods at Real Madrid in Spain. Beyond being seduced by the Juventus sports project – the promise of putting together a “super team” to go in search of the Champions League – the Portuguese found in Italy a much more favorable scenario for his finances.

Ronaldo was accused in Spain of defrauding 14.8 million euros in four tax crimes between 2010 and 2014, for which he agreed to pay 18.8 million.