Criminal charge: Luca Toni owes German church €1.7m in religious tax

Hellas Verona star Luca Toni could be forced to pay €1.7m to the German Catholic Church for failing to pay a religious tax.

According to Sport Mediaset, Toni will go to trial in Munich for the outstanding sum accrued while he was playing for Bayern from 2007 to 2010.

The Kirchensteuer rule finances religions via taxes in Germany, which in Bavaria is eight per cent of their income.

It’s reported Toni’s accountant initially registered him as ‘atheist,’ but then changed it to Catholic in later years.

The German Catholic Church was therefore owed €500,000 per year, totalling €1.5m, which has gained a further €200,000 interest.

The tribunal proposed a plea bargain with Toni paying €500,000, his accountant matching that sum and Bayern Munich pitching in €700,000.

The club refused, so the matter seems set for a trial.

Credit: Football Italia