Rupert Grint, the actor synonymous with Ron Weasley from the “Harry Potter” franchise, is making headlines not for his acting, but for a costly legal defeat. After a protracted battle with the U.K.’s tax authority, H.M.
Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Grint reportedly owes $2.3 million, according to *The Associated Press*. This financial setback stems from a dispute over how his earnings from the wizarding world were taxed.
The saga dates back to the 2011-2012 tax year, during which Grint categorized approximately $5.7 million in residual earnings from “Harry Potter”—including DVD sales, syndication, and streaming rights—as a capital asset. By doing so, he sought to reduce his tax burden significantly, as capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than income in the U.K. HMRC disagreed, asserting that the earnings were clearly income.
After years of legal wrangling, Judge Harriet Morgan ruled against Grint, stating that the money “derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr. Grint” and was thus taxable as income. The verdict underscores that even magical earnings are bound by the rules of the real-world tax system.
Grint, now 35, has previously shared how his time as Ron Weasley felt both rewarding and restrictive. Speaking on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, he described the decade-long filming experience as “suffocating” at times.
Beginning at just 13, Grint spent his formative years immersed in the role, which he admitted left him struggling to envision life beyond the series.
“It never ended. Every year we came back,” Grint said, likening the experience to “Groundhog Day”. While he cherished the opportunity to bring Ron Weasley to life, the relentless schedule made him question what lay beyond the walls of Hogwarts.
Since wrapping up the franchise in 2011, Grint has ventured into smaller projects and television, carving out a niche in productions such as “Servant” on Apple TV+.
Despite these efforts, his legal and financial troubles highlight the complexities of transitioning from a child star to an adult navigating the intricacies of fame, fortune, and, evidently, taxes.
This ruling is a stark reminder that even in the wizarding world, there’s no spell to undo a hefty tax bill. Grint’s journey—both on-screen and off—serves as a poignant reflection on the pressures of early stardom and the practicalities that come with managing a substantial fortune.
