Björn Borg in 14 million kronor tax fault
The Swedish tax office is looking for 14 million kronor (1.8 million dollars) in unpaid taxes from former tennis star Björn Borg and his parents, a Swedish newspaper reported on Thursday.
According to the report in Dagens Nyheter, Borg allegedly placed royalties from a Swedish company in the Dutch Antilles, a tax haven.
The royalties were paid by Worldwide Brand Management for using Borg's brand name, the paper reported, quoting tax office documents.
They had amounted to five percent of Borg-branded products sold, according to the report which said they were first channelled to the Dutch firm Fabulous Licensing, whose board of directors included Björn's parents, Rune and Margaretha Borg.
The royalties then went to another company, RMB investment in the Dutch Antilles, which also featured Rune and Margaretha as directors.
The Swedish taxman estimates that RMB had revenues of 36 million kronor between 1998 and 2001, resulting in a tax bill of 14 million for the Borgs, they said.
Borg, now 49, won 11 Grand Slam tournaments in eight years of professional tennis before retiring at 26 in 1983.
Since then he has developed business interests, including a Björn Borg fashion line, with mixed success.
He is regularly reported to be in financial trouble, and the tax authorities in high-tax Sweden keep a close eye on his business interests abroad.
Borg earlier this year announced that, in order to shore up his family's finances, he would sell the five Wimbledon singles trophies which he won in straight years between 1976 and 1980. But he eventually gave up this plan.
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According to the report in Dagens Nyheter, Borg allegedly placed royalties from a Swedish company in the Dutch Antilles, a tax haven.
The royalties were paid by Worldwide Brand Management for using Borg's brand name, the paper reported, quoting tax office documents.
They had amounted to five percent of Borg-branded products sold, according to the report which said they were first channelled to the Dutch firm Fabulous Licensing, whose board of directors included Björn's parents, Rune and Margaretha Borg.
The royalties then went to another company, RMB investment in the Dutch Antilles, which also featured Rune and Margaretha as directors.
The Swedish taxman estimates that RMB had revenues of 36 million kronor between 1998 and 2001, resulting in a tax bill of 14 million for the Borgs, they said.
Borg, now 49, won 11 Grand Slam tournaments in eight years of professional tennis before retiring at 26 in 1983.
Since then he has developed business interests, including a Björn Borg fashion line, with mixed success.
He is regularly reported to be in financial trouble, and the tax authorities in high-tax Sweden keep a close eye on his business interests abroad.
Borg earlier this year announced that, in order to shore up his family's finances, he would sell the five Wimbledon singles trophies which he won in straight years between 1976 and 1980. But he eventually gave up this plan.
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