Lionel Messi has prepared
complementary tax returns for
2010 and 2011 and has paid the
tax authorities in Spain an
additional €10 million, according
to the Spanish newspaper La
Vanguardia.
Sources connected to the case
have confirmed that the player's
payments correspond to taxes
owed for image rights income in
2010 and 2011. They have also
said that the payments were
made through a complementary
tax return, which consists of a
correction to the tax return
originally submitted.
Messi is also looking to strike an
agreement for the 2007, 2008
and 2009 financial years. Sources
claim Barcelona's Argentinian
striker has accepted that he must
pay tax on income from image
rights and wishes to clear up any
issues with his tax returns for
the three years under
investigation.
Barcelona's financial crimes
office filed a complaint against
Messi and his father, Jorge, on 12
June, accusing them of tax fraud.
The Messis are accused of three
crimes against the tax authorities
corresponding to the 2007, 2008
and 2009 financial years, when
they are alleged to have used tax
havens to avoid paying more
than €4 million.
Messi is due to appear in court
for questioning in Gavá near
Barcelona on 17 September,
although his lawyers have said
he "scrupulously complies with
Spanish legislation".