In 2019, the UK tax agency found that Rupert Grint, known for his role as Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” films, incorrectly categorized 4.5 million pounds in residuals as a capital asset instead of income, leading to a legal dispute.
As a result of the investigation into his tax return from seven years prior, Grint has been required to settle a hefty bill amounting to 1.8 million pounds ($2.3 million).
This ruling has placed a financial burden on the former child star, highlighting the importance of accurately reporting income to tax authorities to avoid legal and financial repercussions.
The agency said Grint had wrongly classed 4.5 million pounds in residuals from the movies — money from DVD sales, TV syndication, streaming rights and other sources — as a capital asset rather than income, which is subject to a much higher tax rate.
Lawyers for Grint appealed, but after years of wrangling a tribunal judge ruled against the actor this week. Judge Harriet Morgan said the money “derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr. Grint” and “is taxable as income.”
Grint, 36, starred in all eight Harry Potter films between 2001 and 2011 as the boy wizard’s best friend, and is calculated to have earned around 24 million pounds from the role.
He previously lost a separate court battle over a 1 million pound tax refund in 2019.
