LONDON (AP) — A British court has ruled that police can confiscate over £2.6 million ($3.3 million) in unpaid taxes owed by influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan. This decision was made on Wednesday and allows the Devon and Cornwall Police to claim the funds from seven frozen bank accounts associated with the Tates and a woman identified only as J.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring stated in Westminster Magistrates’ Court that financial activities conducted by the Tate brothers, which included transferring nearly $12 million to an account registered in the name of J, amounted to a “straightforward cheat” against tax authorities.
According to the police attorney, the Tates are deemed “serial” tax evaders, failing to remit taxes on £21 million generated from their online enterprises, which encompass War Room, Hustlers’ University, Cobra Tate, and OnlyFans, over the period from 2014 to 2022.
Andrew Tate, aged 38, expressed his outrage regarding the freezing of his accounts, claiming it amounts to “outright theft.” In a statement, he asserted, “This is not justice; it’s a coordinated attack on anyone who dares to challenge the system,” raising concerns about how far authorities will go to suppress dissent.
During a hearing in July, attorney Sarah Clarke highlighted a video where Andrew Tate stated, “When I lived in England I refused to pay tax.” She also mentioned that J, the woman involved, was not connected to the brothers’ business activities as per a court order.
Martin Evans, the brothers’ lawyer, countered that the bank transfers in question were completely legitimate for individuals managing online businesses. He noted that while the siblings spent money on several luxury vehicles, their transactions were not illegal.
The legal proceedings regarding the tax evasion claims are civil in nature, thus requiring a lower threshold of proof compared to criminal cases. The court must determine, based on probabilities, whether the Tates evaded taxes.
Documents reveal that the total amount in the seven accounts that police can now seize is approximately £2,683,345.88, which is about $3.4 million.
Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer and dual citizen of the UK and USA, commands a following of over 10 million on social media platform X. Despite his popularity, he has been banned from TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook due to violations related to hate speech and misogynistic remarks.
He and his brother, 36-year-old Tristan Tate, are currently facing criminal charges in Romania, including allegations of human trafficking and forming a criminal organization aimed at exploiting women. Once their Romanian legal matters conclude, they are expected to be extradited to the UK to address further accusations of rape and human trafficking.
Both Andrew and Tristan Tate vehemently deny all accusations against them.
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Associated Press writers Brian Melley in London and Stephen McGrath in Warwick, England contributed to this story.
