Brazilian Court Freezes 36 Properties in Neymar’s Name Over Alleged Tax Evasion

By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Involved in a rape charge by the model Najila Trindade, striker Neymar faces further issues with Brazilian justice. According to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the player had 36 properties in his name, his family or his companies’ name frozen due to a tax evasion lawsuit, claiming R$69 (US$17) million from the athlete.

There are two conjoined mansions in the Condominium Jardim Acapulco, in Guarujá, near the city of Santos, totaling 3000 m² of area. The mansions were acquired in 2011 by the player’s family for R$7 million, and are now valued at R$60 million.

The freeze prevents these assets from being sold but allows their use. Besides the properties in Guarujá, there are others in São Paulo, Santos, Praia Grande, São Vicente, and Itapema, on the coast of Santa Catarina.

The collection suit refers to unpaid taxes on the athlete’s transfer in 2013, from Santos to Barcelona. The Catalan club paid €40 (R$172) million to a company owned by Neymar’s father between 2011 and 2013. The tax deficiency was based upon the differing rates of individual and corporate income tax.

While companies pay 17 percent of taxes on their income, which was the case for Neymar, individuals must pay 27.5 percent of tax.

In 2015, Neymar was fined R$188 million, divided into approximately R$64 million in taxation, R$10 million in interest, R$95 million in ex-officio fines and R$19 million in isolated fines.

In 2017, the player appealed to the courts and succeeded in reducing the fine to R$8.7 million, because these were connected to pictorial copyrights. The R$69 million currently charged are related to the taxation amount for 2015, plus interest and fines.