Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov to pay $507m in taxes to U.S.

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Russian Billionaire Oleg Tinkov, whose online bank is Russia’s second biggest credit card issuer, has agreed to pay $507 million in taxes, interest and penalties.

He struck the deal after pleading guilty to filing a false U.S. tax return, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Tinkov was accused of concealing $1 billion in assets and income when renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2013.

Tinkov, whose businesses including Tinkoff Bank are held by his investment company TCS Group (TCSq.L), was arrested in London in February 2020 in connection with the indictment, and released on bail as he was fighting acute leukaemia.

“Mr Tinkov is grateful for the opportunity to resolve this case in a humanitarian way and is hopeful that it will allow him to focus his energy on fighting his illness,” his lawyers said in a statement.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29, which is expected to wrap up the case.

A spokesperson for Tinkov said the businessman has enough funds to cover the fines without selling his assets, including shares in TCS.