Rupert Grint hit with £2M tax bill over Harry Potter earnings
Rupert Grint, the star of "Harry Potter," has once again found himself in serious trouble—he lost a lawsuit and must pay almost 2 million pounds to the British tax office. It turns out that certain irregularities were discovered in the 36-year-old actor's tax returns.
2:03 PM EST, December 3, 2024
Fans of "Harry Potter" need no introduction to this actor. Rupert Grint played the role of Ron Weasley for years, earning the affection of fans and amassing a fortune (around 24 million pounds for appearing in eight films). Despite this, the 36-year-old actor is facing financial difficulties—he has to return 1.8 million pounds to the UK budget.
The investigation by the British tax office (HM Revenue and Customs) began in 2019 but concerned tax returns for the years 2011/2012. According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor improperly classified his income from sales of "Harry Potter" DVDs and TV broadcasts of the popular wizard’s film series.
It was a huge amount—4.5 million pounds, which was classified as capital gains rather than income. As a result, the actor paid only 10 percent instead of the standard rate of 52 percent.
Rupert Grint has to return almost 2 million pounds
Five years ago, in connection with this case, Grint was obligated to pay 1.8 million pounds. The actor's representatives filed an appeal at that time, but the London court ultimately ruled in favor of HMRC, which means that the film's Ron Weasley will have to pay the overdue taxes. The decision was made at the end of November (Eastern Time).
It's not the first time the "Harry Potter" star has been in a dispute with the tax authorities. "The Guardian" points out that Grint lost another lawsuit in 2016, which also concerned a tax refund. That case involved 1 million pounds.
