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Abba's Björn beats the taxman

TT/The Local
TT/The Local - [email protected]
Abba's Björn beats the taxman

ABBA star Björn Ulvaeus has emerged victorious from a protracted battle with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) over alleged tax evasion.

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Stockholm's County Administrative Court ruled in the musician's favour on all counts, allowing Ulvaeus to retain 85 million kronor ($12 million) the agency had claimed it was owed in taxes, interest and charges.

"I am of course very happy to have it down in black and white that I always went about things the right way with my original tax payments, while the tax agency was on completely the wrong track," Ulvaeus told business magazine Privata Affärer.

The case concerned the taxation of royalties earned on much of ABBA's back catalogue.

While royalties can be paid out to the copyright holder in person, many artists both in Sweden and abroad choose to transfer the rights to a company.

"I am really pleased that many colleagues in the industry will now be able to breathe out and avoid unforeseen tax problems. The vast majority have their rights in a company," said Ulvaeus.

Read more about Björn Ulvaeus's tax arrangements

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