It seems that there has been a meeting at the court due this small crisis, Chris has given interviews to both Expressen and Aftonbladet.
Parts of the very long interview in Expressen
Chris:
- All has been settled. And by that I mean that everything has been paid. It may take time for them to be regulated. I think it is 7 to 10 days for the tax collector in Palm Beach to regulate and remove the unpaid balance. Just because you can't see it does not mean that it is not fixed.
According to the authorities in Palm Beach 2014 taxes were paid on Thursday. But the former debt has not been paid. Why not?
- As soon as this became known to me, I have seen that everything is settled.
But this sum was paid then obviously too late because the requirement has been taken over by another company?
- Compliant.
And this situation has been caused by a late payment?
- Absolutely, yes. It is an unconscious mistake. It is a family house and we have advisers who manage several things about the companies included in the ownership structure. If I let them do everything the costs would be higher than the amounts we are talking about here. So that is why I am involved myself. And in this case it has simply passed me by. There has been so much for me during the past year and I simply ... this was forgotten. I must thank Bunte because they made me aware of this.
The property in Florida is then not only owned by you?
- I have a minority stake.
Is Princess Madeleine ...
- No, she has no ownership regarding this.
How would you describe the situation you are in?
- To talk about my personal finances is never fun but I understand that it is part of the situation I'm in and I'm willing to explain the interpretations I think are false.
Are your businesses doing good?
- Some yes, others go a little slowly.
Do you have other debts than those we have heard about over the last few days?
- I have a rather modest share of loans for investment.
Do you look after the payment of your taxes yourself or have someone do it for you?
- Of course I do. I have an accountant firm that my family has used for thirty years. But to have someone who handles your tax does not mean that your liability is less or that you protect yourself from the errors that can occur, absolutely not. It's up to you to double-check their work.
Have you had similar issues with US tax authorities before?
- No, not with tax authorities. But if I have had late payments? Yes, the one who is aware of the tax collectors in Palm Beach would discover that I have been late a few times with payments, there are in fact two occasions during the last seven years. I have hundreds of other things for me and I work sometimes hundred hours a week and travel a lot. One can only say that there are no other reason except that I should improve my way of managing the household economy a bit.
You have not previously been so interested in talking about your business. Can you tell us a bit more about what it is you do?
- I have some investments in private companies primarily in USA. Some are technology companies, others have the energy to do, natural gas. I am also involved in a payment system, which is already established in USA. But because of lack of competitiveness not in Europe. We hope that we can change that. That's about it, I am prepared to say. I am in a rather unique position where I want to try to continue to be private yet not be. It is difficult to balance.
Did Princess Madeleine know about these debts?
- No, and Palm Beach is the only "debt". But no. When I read Bunte's article it was the first time I realized that we owed money for Palm Beach and it was also the first time she heard it.
And she has not known the tax for the apartment in New York either?
- No, I pay all the bills. I am entirely responsible for all payments, she lets me do it and it's my fault. No one else's.
Chris also tells that his identity was stolen.
Chris Alla pengar har lämnat mitt konto Nyheter Expressen
Translation
To Aftonbladet:
- It is I, and I alone, who is responsible for paying all the bills and property taxes. I take full responsibility for the late payment of property tax.
Chris and Madeleine are currently residing in Stockholm. But Chris O'Neill says:
- It is probably only temporary.
How does it affect your business, that you are moving to Europe?
- I have many business interests in Europe. I will continue to travel a lot, but the distances are shorter now.
How has marriage with Princess Madeleine affected your business.
- The constant attention from European media has not had a positive effect, for obvious reasons.
When Chris is asked about if he discussed about the media information about his tax liabilities with his father-in-law the king, he answers:
- Yes, of course I have spoken to the king about it. I have a good contact with my father-in-law.
What the king had to say, Chris O'Neill does not answer.
Chris O'Neill talar ut Tar fullt ansvar Nyheter Aftonbladet
I'm sure a man in his position has an accountant take care of the "details" tax bills, etc. and, to be honest, this is not a big deal or it wouldn't have been if he hadn't married Princess Madeleine.
