Wimbledon and fiscal problems for tennis players: “I’m losing money if I play in the United Kingdom”

After Roland Garros began the grass period, along with United Kingdom As headquarters of some of the most important contests, A country with many traditions but with complex taxation.

“I’m losing money if I play in the United Kingdom“Rafa Nadal said in 2011 when he stopped participating in Queen’s to play the Halle. This statement may surprise, given a juicy metal prize that usually offers contests such as this category 500, but it is the British farm hiding a clause with which athletes, along with tennis players, tennis players, They have to pay taxes in the country not only for what they have formed here, but also for sponsors that play players come out.

According to the London accounting firm “Moore Kingston Smith”, non -residents in the United Kingdom “They need to pay tax for any payment related to their activity in the United Kingdom“, Like the prize for playing with Queen’s and Wimbledon, but” also a proportion of their income for global activities and that is based on the time they passed in the United Kingdom, “that is, the sponsorship left on the marks.

It explains that the three best tennis players in history and, therefore, those who have formed the most currency, are lowered instead of Queen’s, despite the fact that it is the most similar to the Wimbledons and, therefore, those who offer the best preparation for the third Grand Slam of the season.

Roger Federer only played a contest once, in 1999, and then signed a life agreement with HalleNovak Djokovic did this in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2018, but in the last seven years he did not return, while Nadal, champion in 2008, did not return after 2015.

“The fact is that in the United Kingdom you have a wide tax regime. Not just the money to play, that’s not the problem“Balearic said in 2011 to explain his absence at Queen’s.” Hacienda is taking money from my sponsors, Babolat, Nike and my watches (Richard Mille). That’s very difficult. If I play in the United Kingdom, I lose money. I’ve done it for many years, but it’s harder to play here. This is excessive. “

For a most important tennis player in the world, with a wide sponsorship of sponsors derived from racket clothing, watches, banks, cars, telecommunication, etc., which pays the percentage of all revenues can lead to a problem. Especially since the British law considers it when athletes are taxing not only on days playing parties, but also the time they spend training, attend the media and the events of sponsors.

Before a 2012 reform, the law was more difficult and The British Hacienda is considered when the athlete is taxing day -to -day athlete in the United Kingdomwithout considering that it is trained or not.

This issue has been relevant in recent days, if the percentage of money Alcaraz contributes to the announcement of Roland Garros’s champion. Many media reported that Murcia had to pay 46 % to the Spanish Hacienda of 2.5 million pocketing in ParisBut, however, this is not entirely true, as his partner quickly stops the Holger Rune circuit.

Danish has made it clear that tennis players pay taxes in the country where tournaments are playing, but they have the right to reduce costs, such as renting coaches, fisios, doctors, homes, transportation, etc.

The United Kingdom, strangely, was given exceptions for some events, as happened in the final Champions League last year between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, where none of those involved were paying taxes to the British Tierra, but not one of the most important sports calendar events like Wimbledon.

This tax regime was not only scared tennis players and in 2010 Usain Bolt refused to run to London because his agent told him that he would lose more money than he would earn. To avoid a problem at the Olympic Games held at the British capital in 2012, the British government provided tax exceptions to participants in the games, as well as workers, foreign journalists and representatives of the International Olympic Committee, among other positions.