Andrés Iniesta issued a statement this Friday to clarify his tax situation in Japan in response to information from various Japanese media indicating that the authorities are demanding payment of 580 million yen (about 3.5 million euros) for not having properly declared their income during their stay in the country. “Given the information published in Japan regarding a claim from the Japanese Tax Agency for an alleged tax irregularity, I want to state that: -The underlying debate focuses on my tax residence in 2018, in the second half of which, as is publicly known , I changed my residence to Japan after signing for Vissel Kobe. -In fiscal year 2018 I submitted an income tax return in Spain, for worldwide income, in accordance with the applicable internal regulations. In the years 2021 and 2022, the Japanese tax authority opened an inspection focused on the discussion about my tax residence that concluded considering that I was a Japanese tax resident for part of 2018. The debt from this inspection was effectively satisfied as well.”
According to Iniesta’s position, “as the income for such period has suffered an obvious and burdensome double taxation, I requested through my team of advisors a request to initiate the so-called “friendly procedure” provided for in the Double Taxation Agreement between Spain and Japan. This procedure is currently underway and we hope for its prompt resolution according to the agreement reached by both States so that they can return the excess taxes paid to me.”
Iniesta’s statement concludes: “This is why I demand respect and caution in the face of the information published, while waiting for the process to be resolved. I have always acted and will act in accordance with the law and current regulations. Sincerely, Andrés Iniesta.”
