Narcea Producciones y Promociones, S.L. (Narcea S.L.) had as shareholders Mr. Emiliano and Mrs. Filomena and their son, Mr. Ismael, a professional footballer, who had an employment relationship with the football club Hércules CF SAD of Alicante. Narcea S.L. purportedly managed the economic rights, the representation fees and the image and TV rights of Mr. Ismael. In relation to the image and TV rights of Mr. Ismael, the tax authorities considered that there had been a related party transaction between Narcea S.L. and Mr. Ismael where these rights had been transferred. In consideration for the transfer, the football club Hercules had paid 40,000 euros in 2010 and 80,000 euros in 2011 to Narcea S.L. According to the tax authorities these payments should instead have been made directly to Mr. Ismael without the intermediation of Narcea S.L. Furthermore, the arrangement had resulted in a fiscal advantage since the CIT rate was much lower than the personal income tax rate. The tax ... Read more

According to the Regional Court, it follows from Section 2 of the Income Tax Act that a footballer is subject to tax in the Czech Republic by reason of his residence, permanent home or other similar criteria if he had resided in the Czech Republic (continuously or in several periods) for at least 183 days in 2011 or if he had a permanent home in the Czech Republic in circumstances from which it can be inferred that he intended to reside there permanently. If at least one of these conditions is met, the footballer would be a Czech tax resident within the meaning of Article 2(2) of the Income Tax Act and would be liable to tax on the basis of that (i.e. residence, permanent home or similar criteria). He would therefore also be a resident of the Czech Republic within the meaning of Article 4(1) of the Double Taxation Treaty. The Regional Court did not find any reason to ... Read more