VIAREGGIO. A sportsman and entrepreneur from Viareggio, Massimo Alparone, has come under the scrutiny of the Guardia di finanza. He is accused of having evaded taxes for an amount of about 370 thousand euros.
The amount would refer to income obtained from the activity of his gym, the Luxury Wellness Club in the Viareggio district of Migliarina. However, Alparone – according to the financial police – allegedly disguised it as a non-profit association, with related tax benefits.
The investigation originated from Alparone’s participation in a well-known television program on Rete4, “Dritto e rovescio”: the episode with the Viareggio entrepreneur aired almost exactly a year ago, at the end of September. From the story that emerged, the man was portrayed as living a luxurious life, with sparkling lunches and breakfasts, luxury cars, and a spending capacity claimed to be up to 30 thousand euros a day.
The television report, however, attracted the attention of the financial police who, after identifying the protagonist, went to carry out checks on the actual extent of his lifestyle. What was shown on television, according to the financial police, was “definitely disproportionate compared to the income declared to the Treasury”.
At that point, the Viareggio Finance, led by Major Emanuele Farina, further deepened the checks. They started investigating an amateur sports association in the gym sector, aimed at a defined high-level audience, of which Alparone – according to what was reconstructed by the financial police – was both an employee and legal representative at the time.
“Through a complex invoicing system between related companies and the illegitimate exploitation of the tax regime for non-profit associations, income of 376,963 euros and VAT due of 101,854 euros were omitted,” the Finance stated. “The gym, moreover, did not have any solidarity or sports objective that could justify the benefits reserved for non-profit associations. On the contrary – it continues – a second company was created, also attributable to the same legal representative, which through rental fees for the equipment made large amounts of money flow out that should have been destined for the gym. The association had also created its own brand, giving customers the possibility to purchase luxury merchandise as well. All services absolutely incompatible with the status of a non-profit entity.” At that point, the Finance reconstructed what was defined as a clear link between the sports association and the company owning the equipment for gym activities. The association was then reclassified as a commercial enterprise, with the elimination of all the tax benefits provided.
It is worth noting that the tax evasion contested to the entrepreneur will not have criminal consequences: the total amount is below the threshold above which the alleged crime and related complaint are triggered. Massimo Alparone, contacted by Tirreno, preferred not to make any statements.
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