RUSSELL Brand could be hit with a £2.9million tax bill after his jail sentence made him a UK resident again.
The rapist was advanced £7.4million by his British firm managing his earnings after sex investigations began.
Then two years ago he moved his residence to the US on company records.
And the loan was taken off his firm’s accounts last year.
Entrepreneurs living abroad usually pay no further UK income tax on dividends from their companies — if they stay abroad over five years.
UK residents pay up to 39.35 per cent on dividends so Brand could be liable for up to £2.9million tax.
The fallen funnyman and his wife Laura co-own Pablo Diablo’s Legitimate Business Firm Limited which was formed in October 2006.
The company managed his earnings from film and broadcast work, live shows, royalties and merchandise and made profits of £3,341,057 in 2021.
A tax expert said: “HMRC will want to know how Brand’s £7.44m loan was wiped out in 2025 as a dividend or a write-off is taxable, and prison could bring the five-year rule into play.
“Companies House records show he didn’t change his residence to the US in 2024 so he hasn’t been there long enough to be exempt.
‘The tax will be owed by Brand personally – not the firm – and he won’t be able to offset his criminal defence costs against any business profits.”
Brand was convicted at Southwark Crown Court eight days ago of one rape and three sexual assaults against four women.
He was cleared of two rapes and an attempted indecent assault.
Six fresh claims by women
SIX more women have accused Russell Brand of sexual misconduct.
The allegations, revealed last night by The Times, could not be reported until the end of the court case.
They include claims of sexual assault and emotionally or physically abusive behaviour.
One woman alleges the disgraced comic apologised after having sex with her without consent. Another said he continued having sex with her after she asked him to stop because it was hurting.
A third accused Brand of attempting to pull her into a toilet in 2015, when he was already in a relationship with his now wife Laura. Three say Brand pursued them at his own shows.