Rallitähti says that he paid the last installment of his million debts from the beginning of the year.
Jari-Matti Latvala is a very relieved man. JANI KORPELA
Jari-Matti Latvala’s tax debt hell is officially over.
Latvala, who has won 18 World Rally Championship competitions in his career, confirmed his good news to Iltalehti.
– I paid the last installment a couple of weeks ago. It’s all paid off now. There’s nothing left.
It was no small sum. The taxman collected as much as 4.5 million euros in receivables from the rally star from 2014-2018. The tax assessor felt that Latvala, who had lived abroad for years, had spent too many days in Finland in terms of taxation.
The sum was originally more than six million, but the correction request submitted by Latvala significantly reduced the staggering sum.
Latvala’s feeling is easy to guess.
– I am really relieved that this is finally over. For me, this was a matter of honor. I wanted to finish this with honor.
Thanks Toyota
Latvala is still a busy man, even though his active racing years are behind him. JANI KORPELA
Latvala admits that the last few years have been very difficult. Having lived in Monaco for years, he felt that he had become the eyesore of the Tax Administration.
– Let’s make that man a precedent, Latvala describes the matter.
Latvala made a nice fortune during his rally career, but collecting four and a half million euros required sacrifices from him as well. Among other things, Latvala had to sell his personal property to raise the required amount.
There is one entity to which Latvala owes a big debt of gratitude.
– Big thanks to Toyota. This work of mine has saved a lot. A big thank you to them for this, Latvala thanks.
Rides to come
Latvala raced with the Japanese brand from 2017 to 2019. Even though his career as a factory driver ended, the times remained warm. Toyota liked Latvala’s style so much that they made him the team manager of the Japanese team’s rally team from the 2021 season.
In his new car, Latvala still gets to enjoy life at the top of the rally world, albeit in a new role.
The compensation is certainly nice, but Toyota-pesti offers him more.
– I get to participate in the Hokkaido Rally in Japan in September with a Toyota WRC2 car. In addition, I will again participate in the Fuji 24-hour race with a hydrogen car. Next time I will take the Celica out for a spin at the SM rally in Seinäjoki, Latvala tells about his driving plans for this year.
The three-time winner of the rally praises this year’s race route of the Finnish World Rally Championship.
– There are great clips. I like it when classics are brought back.
And could rally people see a real surprise: Jari-Matti Latvala in the list of participants of this year’s race?
– I can’t deny that I would be very interested in participating. But it may be that I have slightly different tasks then, Latvala, who has settled into his role as team manager, laughs.