Rupert Grint, who famously portrayed Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, owes $2.3 million following a legal dispute over taxes. The actor was ordered to pay the amount in 2019 after the U.K. tax authority, H.M. Revenue and Customs, audited his 2011-2012 tax return.
The agency argued that Grint incorrectly classified about $5.7 million in residuals from the Harry Potter series—such as earnings from DVD sales, TV syndication, and streaming rights—as capital assets instead of income, which is subject to a higher tax rate.
After years of legal battles, a judge ruled against Grint this week, stating that the money was taxable as income because it “derived substantially the whole of its value from the activities of Mr. Grint.”
In 2021, Grint discussed the pressures of filming the Harry Potter series, describing it as “suffocating” at times due to the intense and continuous schedule.
Reflecting on his time in the franchise, which began with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001, Grint said he didn’t see a career beyond playing Ron, having spent nearly a decade immersed in the role.
