James Rodríguez wins case as Hacienda told to repay more than €3 million | OneFootball

James Rodríguez has secured a key legal victory, with Spain’s National Court ruling that the tax agency must return more than €3 million from the 2014 tax year.

According to Superdeporte, judges found Hacienda’s case lacked legal basis and that the player was not a Spanish tax resident in 2014.

The dispute dates to 2014, when Rodríguez moved from Monaco to Real Madrid after shining at the World Cup in Brazil. Hacienda argued he was already resident in Spain and liable on his worldwide income.

His defence showed he spent more than 183 days in the Principality of Monaco, placing him under Monegasque tax rules. The court accepted the evidence and certified he spent 202 days there in 2014.

That year he earned €2.2 million from Monaco, €4.3 million from Real Madrid and €11 million in image rights, sums the agency sought to fold into a Spanish tax base. The judges said the authority used faulty criteria by trying to tax income outside Spain given his residence and days.

As with Xabi Alonso’s case, the player prevailed and the tax authority lost.

Now with Minnesota United, Rodríguez closes a bitter chapter from his European career. The refund brings financial relief and restores his public image, with the ruling confirming no irregularities in his tax conduct.

Source: Superdeporte