Harry Potter’s magic has failed to work on Japanese tax authorities, who accuse the translator of the blockbuster books on the boy wizard of failing to declare millions of dollars in income, reports said on Wednesday.
Yuko Matsuoka (62) who has translated the books into Japanese since 1999, declared her income in Switzerland, saying she was a Swiss resident, the Asahi Shimbun, Jiji Press and Kyodo News reported.
But authorities consider her a resident of Japan and say she failed to declare ¥3,5-billion ($30-million) in income in the three years to 2004, said the reports, quoting investigative sources.
The stage is set for a legal battle, as authorities seek to impose more than ¥700-million in back taxes on her and Matsuoka calls for talks between Japan and Switzerland, which imposes a lower tax rate, the reports said.
Matsuoka’s publishing company referred inquiries to a representative in Switzerland. Tax authorities declined comment, citing privacy issues.
The series about the boy wizard has been a major success in Japan, with the last edition, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, spending four weeks at the top of the book wholesaler Tohan’s bestseller list earlier this year. – AFP