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John Tavares Will Go Down as a Maple Leafs Great
John Tavares Will Go Down as a Maple Leafs Great
Maple Leafs' John Tavares Appears in Toronto Courtroom Over Battle With Government
After an extremely busy start to the offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs , things have quieted down considerably over the last month. So any news surrounding the team will make headlines. That's the case on Tuesday as John Tavares appears in a Toronto courtroom over an ongoing battle with the Canadian taxman. Joseph Brean reports in the National Post that both Tavares and his former Leafs teammate Patrick Marleau are witnesses in a trial over the taxation of signing bonuses. Specifically, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says the Leafs veteran center owes $6.8 million plus $1.2 million in interest in taxes over his 2018 signing bonus when he agreed to a deal to leave the NY Islanders and join his hometown team in Toronto. Tavares in court to dispute $8M tax bill with Canadian government Per Brean, the CRA regards Tavares's $15 signing bonus that year as employment income, which would be taxable at over 50%. Tavares, however, says it should be regarded as an “inducement” to sign with the Leafs, and therefore was taxed in the U.S. at just 15% (which he has already paid). Players sometimes negotiate their NHL salaries to come largely as "signing bonuses" rather than salary, " in part because of favourable cross-border tax treatment, but also as protection from lockouts, which stop salary payments but not bonuses," Brean wrote. Tavares signed a 7-year, $77M deal ($11M AAV) with the Maple Leafs, but his "base salary" that first season was just $650,000, with $15M coming as a "signing bonus." In fact, 92% of that $77M came as "signing bonuses" over the course of the contract. He earned $910,000 in "salary" for the last six years of the deal. The Crown argued, in its opening remarks, that a signing bonus is not automatically an “inducement.” While some may well be, “It is just that these particular signing bonuses did not (qualify),” said Crown attorney Devon Peavoy. The trial over, essentially, "what is an inducement?" will take place over the next two weeks.
East Notes: Tavares, Wolf Pack, Zalewski
John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs will take the stand in a courtroom today. According to an article by Joseph Brean in the National Post, Tavares and former teammate Patrick Marleau will serve as witnesses in a trial concerning the taxation of the signing bonuses they each received from the Maple Leafs. Rather than his current contract, [ ]
The Pressure Auston Matthews Feels in Toronto
The Pressure Auston Matthews Feels in Toronto
How Sergei Bobrovsky could make the Maple Leafs believe in themselves
Amid concern Bob's best years are behind him and Toronto over-paid, another veteran Leaf goalie thinks his impact could be large.
Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Tavares, McKenna, Cowan & Wrong Assumptions
There are always a few things around the Toronto Maple Leafs that get repeated so often they eventually become accepted as fact. John Tavares is slow. Gavin McKenna has to
Rogers WiFi complaint goes viral as Toronto fans tell Tempo all‑star: 'Welcome to Canada'
Marina Mabrey posted on social media complaining that she is 'sick to death' over poor service from telecom Canadian giant
Maple Leafs fans don't believe this team can win the Stanley Cup, survey shows
Toronto Maple Leafs aren't overly convinced the team was a good enough chance to win a Stanley Cup within the next decade.
Gavin McKenna could lead the Maple Leafs to glory — or force a total teardown
The Toronto Maple Leafs' new era could be one where they hoist the Stanley Cup, or be a complete disaster.
Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly to captain NHL stars at fifth Hockey Night in Brampton. Here’s who’s playing
Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly to captain NHL stars at fifth Hockey Night in Brampton. Here’s who’s playing