Metal Storm logo
Sabaton - Founders Ordered To Pay Thousands Of Dollars To Tax Agency


According to the Swedish webzine source Aftonbladet, Sabaton founders vocalist Joakim Brodén and bassist Pär Sundström have been ordered by the Swedish Tax Agency to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax surcharges. More can be read below.

The Swedish Tax Agency, which manages civil registration of private individuals and collects taxes such as personal income tax, corporate tax, VAT and excise tax, believes that Brodén and Sundström did not report their income from USA tours in 2016-2018 correctly. As a result, each one of the musicians will have to cough up a substantial amount to settle his debt.

Brodén, who writes all of the music for Sabaton is the one who is facing the biggest tax blow, having been ordered to pay back more than two million Swedish kronor (more than $233,000).

Brodén and Sundström claim to have followed the United States - Sweden Tax Treaty which covers double taxation with regards to income tax, corporation tax, and capital gains tax, and insist that they had hired experts to make sure the paperwork was filed properly. Despite this, the Swedish Tax Agency says that the accounting was not handled accurately.

Source: aftonbladet.se
Band profile: Sabaton
Posted: 07.09.2021 by Bad English


Comments

‹‹ Back to News
Comments: 27   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 222 users
07.09.2021 - 20:05
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
WTF... those guys are rich. We pay 33% taxes and I dont know when it goes to 50% since I dont earn, but I think 50 000 SEK per months you pay 50%
233,000 dollars are 2.3 million sek, it means those guys might had 4 million in incomes for touring? My rough calulations, but I maybe pay 80 000 per year in taxes. So they are rich .....
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
07.09.2021 - 20:25
WorpeX
Made of Metal
Sounds like they need to sue the tax agency they hired. I'm sure Sabaton will be fine.
Loading...
07.09.2021 - 20:34
corrupt
With a lowercase c
Looks like taxes are complex when you earn big in any country
----
Loading...
07.09.2021 - 20:36
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Not sure how it works there, but since they do it private, IMO they need pay them selves, me as worker, my work does it. btw if you have 2 jobes, you need pay each year maybe sek 3000. I have one, so I dont care
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
07.09.2021 - 21:24
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
Naturally doesn't it become increasingly more complicated the more you earn. Having to include every single minute income transaction for example etc, etc?


Etc.
----
I may not have the largest collection but I certainly have the absolute best

Loading...
08.09.2021 - 02:57
Maco
Pvt Funderground
Lmao just pay and disband if you can.
----
Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 05:13
CWA

Fuck the tax man!
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 06:42
Lanthros

Be REAL men. Pay your damned taxes like adults. Stay away from that crybaby lunatic "taxation is theft" trash.
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 07:59
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Maco on 08.09.2021 at 02:57

Lmao just pay and disband if you can.


Now you ned to buy their merchandise and attend S America tour to help them pay those taxes.
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 10:28
silenius

Written by Bad English on 07.09.2021 at 20:05

WTF... those guys are rich. We pay 33% taxes and I dont know when it goes to 50% since I dont earn, but I think 50 000 SEK per months you pay 50%
233,000 dollars are 2.3 million sek, it means those guys might had 4 million in incomes for touring? My rough calulations, but I maybe pay 80 000 per year in taxes. So they are rich .....

Taxes in sweden work like a staircase mate, so if your base taxation is 25% up to 35000kr/month and then it increases to 30% they only apply that 30% taxation to everything ABOVE 35000kr. So let's say you earn 40000kr/month, then you get taxed 25% on 35000kr and 30% on 5000kr. and it has several levels.
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 11:03
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by silenius on 08.09.2021 at 10:28

Written by Bad English on 07.09.2021 at 20:05

WTF... those guys are rich. We pay 33% taxes and I dont know when it goes to 50% since I dont earn, but I think 50 000 SEK per months you pay 50%
233,000 dollars are 2.3 million sek, it means those guys might had 4 million in incomes for touring? My rough calulations, but I maybe pay 80 000 per year in taxes. So they are rich .....

Taxes in sweden work like a staircase mate, so if your base taxation is 25% up to 35000kr/month and then it increases to 30% they only apply that 30% taxation to everything ABOVE 35000kr. So let's say you earn 40000kr/month, then you get taxed 25% on 35000kr and 30% on 5000kr. and it has several levels.


I pay 33% and extra 500 spänn , I get back like 8000 each year .
Can you help me calculate how much those guys got from the tour
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 16:40
Ellrohir
Heaven Knight
Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...
----
My rest seems now calm and deep
Finally I got my dead man sleep


Loading...
08.09.2021 - 17:07
Lanthros

Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

Funny how a certain group of people want to enjoy all the amenities of and be a part of civilized society but are too childish to want to contribute their fair share to said society that allowed them to get where they are in the first place.
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 17:41
SoUnDs LiKe PoP

Written by Lanthros on 08.09.2021 at 17:07

Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

Funny how a certain group of people want to enjoy all the amenities of and be a part of civilized society but are too childish to want to contribute their fair share to said society that allowed them to get where they are in the first place.


No, he's right. Taxation *is* theft, and it's hilarious that the gov't is incompetent at virtually everything it does except whenever it comes to calculating how much of your money they're entitled to.

And don't even try to pull the "contribute to society" card on me - I guarantee my wife and I pay more taxes in one month than you do in an entire year.
----
I lift weights and listen to metal
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 18:52
Lanthros

Written by SoUnDs LiKe PoP on 08.09.2021 at 17:41

Written by Lanthros on 08.09.2021 at 17:07

Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

Funny how a certain group of people want to enjoy all the amenities of and be a part of civilized society but are too childish to want to contribute their fair share to said society that allowed them to get where they are in the first place.


No, he's right. Taxation *is* theft, and it's hilarious that the gov't is incompetent at virtually everything it does except whenever it comes to calculating how much of your money they're entitled to.

And don't even try to pull the "contribute to society" card on me - I guarantee my wife and I pay more taxes in one month than you do in an entire year.

Bullshit in every way and you know it. Go sit down before you REALLY make yourself look stupid.
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 20:36
SoUnDs LiKe PoP

Written by Lanthros on 08.09.2021 at 18:52

Written by SoUnDs LiKe PoP on 08.09.2021 at 17:41

Written by Lanthros on 08.09.2021 at 17:07

Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

Funny how a certain group of people want to enjoy all the amenities of and be a part of civilized society but are too childish to want to contribute their fair share to said society that allowed them to get where they are in the first place.


No, he's right. Taxation *is* theft, and it's hilarious that the gov't is incompetent at virtually everything it does except whenever it comes to calculating how much of your money they're entitled to.

And don't even try to pull the "contribute to society" card on me - I guarantee my wife and I pay more taxes in one month than you do in an entire year.

Bullshit in every way and you know it. Go sit down before you REALLY make yourself look stupid.


Yeah, you rekt me bro. Go post about it on Reddit and reap that sweet karma.
----
I lift weights and listen to metal
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 20:44
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

That could be the explanation why the moves Knock-Off and Thief's base power kept getting increased over the generations.
----
I may not have the largest collection but I certainly have the absolute best

Loading...
08.09.2021 - 20:53
nikarg

Everyone be civil or face the Mod's tax.

Loading...
08.09.2021 - 21:42
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

Its not robbing. People should pay taxes... That's it.
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 21:42
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
I wonder how UK bands will pay taxes after touring UE now
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
08.09.2021 - 23:59
SoUnDs LiKe PoP

Written by Bad English on 08.09.2021 at 21:42

Written by Ellrohir on 08.09.2021 at 16:40

Funny how the state is super-effective when it is about robbing people of their income...

Its not robbing. People should pay taxes... That's it.


It's a bit more nuanced than that. You can believe in society and the need for taxation and still disagree with how much the government takes and how they choose to spend it / how effective they are with spending it.

Anyway... Sabaton.
----
I lift weights and listen to metal
Loading...
09.09.2021 - 20:58
opeth518

Proud Business Owner here, opened ~15 years ago in a high tax state. Never had any tax problems and pay my share, once i forgot to include a certain form which was a nightmare but I'm a good boy and keep it real.

Instead of going after some of the clueless posts on here I'll add my own. If this is from 2016-2018 then a large portion of this could be fees and more important INTEREST, right? In the US Its not uncommon for the interest to be more than the original bill if its going on 5+ years completely unaddressed. I'm sure its somewhat the same in Sweden otherwise there would be no incentive to pay back taxes or at least form a payment plan. As for how exactly Swedish tax law/US tax law intersect I have no idea, I only get screwed by my country, but at first glance it seems the tax treaty just lets you avoid double taxation, meaning, imagine making $100 and the US takes $40 and Sweden another $40, haha! This takes that into account, that you already paid some to someone else, so maybe the country you did work in takes only $30 and Your country $25. Or whatever, I'm not an international tax professional and this is not advice but that's my take after 45 seconds of reading that that's the essence of these tax treaties. Just thought it something to keep in mind as we theoretically calculate Sabatons tour Income that a lot of it if not most is probably bad boy penalty...LATE bad boy penalty at that lol.

At the end of the day, I'm willing to bet Sabaton pulled some crap and got caught, just my gut feeling. Accounting not handled accurately doesn't sound too promising coming from the tax authorities though. The possible proof going forward is if Sabaton eventually pursues these hired experts/preparers of theirs in court (which I can't see why they wouldn't be able to.) If they even can says a lot. More likely, they forgot to include merch, bought a WW1 tank and tried to write it off as a work vehicle, or classified themselves as more favorably taxed historians

Just a silly news article for everybody else, edge of the seat entertainment for me how this develops!!!
Loading...
09.09.2021 - 21:23
MeatWolf

Written by WorpeX on 07.09.2021 at 20:25

I'm sure Sabaton will be fined.
Loading...
17.09.2021 - 16:33
Madlax

Surprise, surprise. If there is one thing Sweden and the US (as of late) has been good at ever since embracing left wing policies is to tax the hell out of the most successful and most productive people in their country. Hope this is a lesson for the band and all those in Sweden and the US (especially those living in blue states) who actually care about their work and their earnings to move their finances out of the country. EU itself has several 'fiscal paradises', 2 of them quite close to Sweden. US has the red states with lower taxes or not taxes. Next time guys, make sure you don't vote socialists fuckpigs. They don't tax you to redistribute wealth, that's horseshit. They tax you so that they can fill their own pockets and increase the size of the state and the 'aristocracy' affiliated with it.
Loading...
17.09.2021 - 19:48
nikarg

Written by Madlax on 17.09.2021 at 16:33

socialists fuckpigs

In all fairness, I was wondering what took you so long. I guess today was the day you decided to blow the fuse. Goodbye.
Loading...
19.09.2021 - 23:30
Aries Rising

Written by nikarg on 17.09.2021 at 19:48

Written by Madlax on 17.09.2021 at 16:33

socialists fuckpigs

In all fairness, I was wondering what took you so long. I guess today was the day you decided to blow the fuse. Goodbye.


To be fair, socialist fuckpigs would make a great name for a punk or grindcore band.
Loading...
20.09.2021 - 10:14
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Someone criticizes Sweddish taxes.... but can in USSA ppl be sick from work and get paid for it? Why Americans has few works? Does they ahve free health care. in Sweden pay sek 1000 per year after , after it all is free, as doctor visit. You get cheaper dentist and more after sek 10 000 you get half covered from TAX PAYERS. Only homless people we have are Romanian, Bulgarian baggers , how many homless ppl are in the states or russia? Maybe I dont support 100% this tax system, because we have abusers and I want get more money if I get more money from work. But then again, I can stay home, call it sick and work on MS if I am lazy dont think how can I get survive. 2 weeks I can stay home get 80% of my incomes, after 7th day you need doc signature and I get it easy since I have something ... so nevermind

Sorry Nik for my post, I could not resist
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...

Hits total: 3776 | This month: 7