The Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti failed to declare 300,000 euros of income in 2019, according to information from Médiapart and L'Opinion confirmed by the minister's entourage, who speaks of an accounting "error" since rectified.
The Keeper of the Seals, who arrived at Place Vendôme just a year ago, was like all ministers subject to a tax audit, in conjunction with the tax authorities and under the control of the High Authority for the Transparency of Life public (HATVP).
In his declaration for 2018-2019, while he was still a lawyer, Eric Dupond-Moretti failed to declare 300,000 euros derived from copyright and related to the show he was playing at the theater, which should have generated 180,000 euros taxes, said his entourage.
Benefit from the right to make mistakes
“These 300,000 euros had been deposited into his account, declared to Urssaf, subject to VAT.
They were only omitted in the 2018-2019 income statement, ”the same source argued, citing an“ error ”by his former accountant.
At the start of the verification process, "nobody had seen anything, neither at the HATVP nor at Bercy," insisted the minister's entourage.
According to the same source, it was the new accountant who realized the error in May.
“On his own initiative, Eric Dupond-Moretti asked to report the error,” it was argued.
"The tax rectification has taken place, the minister's fiscal situation is fully resolved and his good faith has been demonstrated," "the minister has benefited from the right to make mistakes," insisted the source.
The HATVP declined to comment.
Bad times for the minister
The General Directorate of Public Finances (DGFiP), responsible for verifications, recalled that this information "is subject to professional and tax secrecy".
While celebrating his first year in Place Vendôme, Eric Dupond-Moretti is currently living delicate days: last Thursday, the Ministry of Justice was raided for nearly fifteen hours, as part of the Court's investigation Justice of the Republic (CJR) which targets him for conflict of interest.
In this case, Eric Dupond-Moretti is suspected of having taken advantage of his functions as minister to settle accounts with magistrates crossed in cases where he intervened as a lawyer.
He was summoned to the CJR on July 16 for an indictment, a first for a minister in office.
Justice
Eric Dupond-Moretti, a "serene" minister in the face of the throes of political life
Justice
Illegal acquisition of interests: Eric Dupond-Moretti summoned on July 16 to the Court of Justice of the Republic
Income
Eric Dupond-Moretti
Taxes
Justice