Iceland authorities investigate Sigur Rós for alleged A$10.3m tax evasion

Iceland’s e Directorate of Tax Investigations has frozen millions of dollars of assets of the three members of Sigur Rós while it investigates 800 million ISK (A$10.3 million) worth of alleged tax evasion.

Most of the assets belonged to frontman Jón Þór Birgisson, including 13 properties, two motorcycles, two cars, six bank accounts, and shares in different companies.

Drummer Orri Páll Dýrason and bassist Georg Hólm also had hundreds of thousands of dollars frozen.

The band blamed the issue on a mistake by an accountant, and that the money had been paid back.

They also expressed annoyance that the assets had been frozen since they had been cooperating fully with authorities.

A statement explained:

“Sigur Rós have nothing to hide and have fully complied relevant information to the director of tax investigations (SRS) to resolve any and all issues.

“The band had an accounting relationship with PwC [PricewaterhouseCoopers] in Iceland from the beginning of their career until 2012, when they followed their long-standing accountant to his new venture Ryni Endurskodun.

“Late in 2014 the band were alerted that they had not filed correct tax returns for some years during the period 2010-2014.

“Part of the tax returns during that period were not filed correctly and that is not disputed by the band.

“This notification from the SRS [Directorate of Tax Investigations] was a surprise to the band as its members were all along in good faith that their tax returns were being submitted correctly by the accountant handling their affairs.

“This was disappointing to Sigur Rós and its members as they have from the beginning emphasized that their tax returns ought to be filed correctly in Iceland.

“The band moved to accountancy firm, Virtus, at the start of 2015 to begin the process of getting their tax returns into correct form in accordance with the law.

“The band understand the SRS’s need to do their job, but would have preferred something less heavy-handed than the asset freeze.

“Especially because the bands members have from the start of the investigation co-operated fully with the directorate, submitted all information requested by the authorities and there was no need to freeze the assets of the members of Sigur Rós.

“This is in accordance with the opinion of the lawyers of Sigur Rós at LOGOS legal services.”

Their next music emerges as part of the limited edition vinyl issue of the Black Mirror soundtrack through Invada Records as part of Record Store Day next month.

They had contributed two songs, ‘Match’ and ‘End’ to an episode called Hang The DJ’.

This episode has been a favourite of the show’s following as much for its plot – about a dystopian real-life dating app – as for its accompanying music put together by Sigur Ros collaborator Alex Somers.

Last month, the band’s music was used in the Reykjavík Winter Lights festival as part of a piece by the Iiceland Dance Company.

The piece was projected on the side of oil tanks in Reykjavík, which was live-streamed.

The band staged its own Norður og Niður Festival in December.

The band, which has a strong following in Australia, last played Australia in mid-2017 as part of Splendour In The Grass and sideshows.