Alex Ovechkin Faces Tax Issues in Russia
Alex Ovechkin, the renowned hockey player, recently returned to Russia and encountered some financial trouble.
According to reports from the Russian sports tabloid “Mash-on Sports,” the country’s Federal Tax Service has taken action against Ovechkin due to his failure to file tax returns since 2023. He is classified as “self-employed” in Russia, which apparently led to issues because he’s involved in the rental of intellectual property related to his merchandise without meeting the necessary tax obligations.
It’s said that “the hockey legend hasn’t filed his individual entrepreneur declarations since 2023.” The tax authorities have since blocked several of his accounts—two in 2023, two more in 2024, and as recently as the end of July 2025.
While Ovechkin reportedly doesn’t have any outstanding debts, his individual entrepreneurial status has created some complications. At one point, he sold merchandise under this status.
In Russia, becoming an “individual entrepreneur” (or “individual predoprinimatel”) provides a legal structure for freelancers, making it less clear-cut between personal and business accounts. This lack of distinction partially explains why Ovechkin’s personal accounts were impacted.
The situation has been ongoing for a few years, though Match TV reported on August 12 that a resolution is expected soon.
Sources from Match TV noted that while there are no debts, the accountant did miss the deadline for submitting reports, leading to the block. They assured that this issue is likely to be resolved shortly.
This incident has attracted coverage from numerous Russian and Belarusian news outlets, which are highlighting the various aspects of Ovechkin’s tax troubles.
Notably, Ovechkin has earned a staggering $161.7 million throughout his NHL career, which means his accountant must have a pretty busy schedule. He has joked in the past about keeping track of his earnings.
When asked how much he thinks he has, Ovechkin admitted last summer that he wasn’t sure. When prompted about whether he thought his earnings exceeded $100 million, he humorously remarked, “Of course not. Why are there taxes? If there were $100 million, people would be able to relax and drink beer now.”
Ovechkin also invests in real estate, owning properties in both the U.S. and Russia. In 2024, he confirmed this, saying he bought an apartment in Miami four years ago and has a house in Washington. He mentioned that he also has investments in Russia for himself.
As of now, there are no further updates on whether Ovechkin’s banking issues in Russia have been fully sorted out, but he is scheduled to return to the U.S. early next month.
