Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been accused of being “serial tax evaders” who have allegedly avoided paying any taxes or VAT on their revenues totaling £21 million generated from their online businesses and OnlyFans accounts.
The Devon and Cornwall Police have initiated a civil claim against the brothers, alongside a third individual identified as J, to recover approximately £2.8 million in unpaid taxes from seven frozen bank accounts linked to them.
The court proceedings shed light on the allegations made against the Tate brothers, who stand accused of not contributing a single penny in taxes despite their substantial online earnings.
Devon and Cornwall Police are determined to hold the individuals accountable for their alleged tax evasion, addressing the significant sum owed to the authorities.
The case has raised concerns regarding the potential consequences of tax evasion and the impact it has on public funds. The police force aims to recover the unpaid taxes, reflecting their commitment to enforcing tax compliance and ensuring a fair and just system for all.
The court will examine the evidence and arguments presented by both sides. The outcome of this case has the potential to set a precedent in tackling tax evasion within the context of online businesses and digital platforms, emphasizing the importance of upholding tax obligations in the modern era.
Andrew and Tristan Tate, will face the legal consequences of these allegations, as the court seeks to determine the extent of their tax liability and the appropriate measures to retrieve the unpaid taxes.
The case will continue to unfold, highlighting the significance of tax compliance and the consequences for those who fail to fulfill their obligations.
The Devon and Cornwall Police’s pursuit of justice in this matter serves as a reminder that tax evasion is taken seriously, and individuals must be held accountable for any attempts to evade their tax responsibilities.
Sarah Clarke KC for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate are serial tax and VAT evaders. They, in particular Andrew Tate, are brazen about it.”
It is claimed that they paid no tax in any country on £21m revenue from businesses online earned between 2014 and 2022.
Ms Clarke quoted from a video posted online by Andrew Tate, in which he said: “When I lived in England I refused to pay tax.”
The court heard he said his approach was “ignore, ignore, ignore because in the end they go away”.
The former kickboxer and social media influencer is awaiting trial in Romania on separate criminal charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
She told the hearing on Monday: “The evidence is that between 2014 and 2022 they have made approximately £21m in revenue from customers of their e-products or digital services – various products that are sold on websites conducted with their business and in addition OnlyFans entities as well.
“And out of that £21m in revenues they have not paid a penny in tax in any jurisdiction in the world, or VAT. And that includes either in a personal or corporate capacity.”
She told the court they had never registered for tax or VAT, save for one declaration in Romania for a company called Talisman Enterprises, for which no tax was paid.
The disclosures for that company were a “work of fiction”, Ms Clarke told the court.
She said Andrew Tate, 37, spends “a lot of time bragging” in web interviews about his money and the brothers are known to enjoy “all the accoutrements of extraordinary wealth”, including property and vehicles.
“And one of the reasons that they have all of those things is, unlike everybody else, they believe that they don’t have to pay tax,” she added.
The court also heard that the brothers had “a huge number of bank accounts” in the UK, seven of which have been frozen.
Ms Clarke said that money was “washed around UK bank accounts” to create a “spaghetti trail” to make it impossible to disentangle what’s owed to the tax man and what isn’t.
“That’s what tax evasion looks like, that’s what money laundering looks like,” she told the court.
Almost $12m was paid into one account in just over three years. That account was opened in J’s name in 2019 using an incorrect date of birth despite them having no role in the Tate’s businesses, the court heard.
“It was a device,” Ms Clarke added. “And one of the reasons of course that you use one account in someone else’s name is in order to put distance between you and the money you are intending to deal with in a criminal way.”
Revenues were said to have been generated from their schemes Cobratate, Hustlers University and The War Room, the court heard.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that J, one of the individuals involved, had transferred money through their own account, including a payment of £805,000 to their Revolut account. Out of this amount, £495,000 was allegedly paid to Andrew Tate, while £75,000 was transferred to an account in J’s name, which was later converted to cryptocurrency.
Gary Pons, representing J, argued that the funds in the Gemini account were in cryptocurrency and therefore could not be frozen at that particular time.
The Tate brothers are accused of neglecting to pay the taxes owed in both the United Kingdom and Romania, as stated in court.
It is important to note that these proceedings are civil in nature, which means that they require a lower standard of proof compared to criminal cases.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring will evaluate the evidence and determine, based on the balance of probabilities, whether the claims made by the police are true.
Martin Evans KC, who represents the brothers, is expected to present their case during a two-day hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The hearing is ongoing, and further updates will follow.
