Boris Becker Meets Taxman On Centre Court

Ulrika Lomas, Tax-news.com, Brussels

08 August 2000

Just days after tenor Luciano Pavarotti was stung by the Italian taxman for US$12 million, another celebrity "tax dodger" has incurred the wrath of the authorities, this time three-times Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, who has been asked by Herr Taxman to pay US$4.63 million.

The hefty tax bill comes after a three year investigation into Becker's tax situation, which started when tax administration investigations raided his home outside Munich in December 1996. Becker is alleged to have used a residence in Monaco to avoid paying tax while still living in Germany from 1985 to 1993. According to the German Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag, the tax investigation into Becker could be dropped if he decides, like Pavarotti, to pay up. His tax adviser Erich Samson said: 'The proceedings against Mr. Becker could be dropped in two weeks time. The tax administration informed us in June of the conditions for the proceedings to be ended. Now Mr. Becker has to decide whether he accepts to pay the requested sum.'

Becker, who is now involved in sports marketing with two companies of his own, is said to deny any wrongdoing and Samson said 'We remain convinced that Mr Becker does not have to pay anything.'

Becker should perhaps cast his mind back to the fate of Peter Graf, the father of his female contemporary Steffi, when considering whether to succumb to the German taxman. In 1995 Peter Graf and his daughter's tax adviser were hauled before the courts for tax evasion, with Graf ending up in jail for failure to report $35.2 million of his daughter's income. It was alleged at the time that the state finance minister and tax authorities gave the Grafs preferential treatment because of Steffi Graf's star status. However, given Graf's sentence, Becker would be wise to tread cautiously with the German taxman.

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