Sigur Rós acquitted on charges of large-scale tax evasion

Georg “Goggi” Holm, Kjartan “Kjarri” Sveinsson, Orri Páll Dýrason and frontman Jónsi Birgisson were indicted on tax evasion charges in 2019 by Iceland’s directorate of Internal Revenue following an investigation that begin back in 2016. Admitting they evaded payment of 151 million Icelandic krona - around £840,000 - in taxes between 2011 and 2014, they pleaded guilty and paid back the full amount, plus fines and interes.

Jónsi alone was accused of evading around £170,000 in income taxes and around £75,000 on his investment taxes. The other members of Sigur Rós had their assets, including houses and apartments worth £4.9 million, frozen while the case was pending trial.The band maintained their innonce throughout, attributing blame to their accountant, and issuing a statement urging their country's government to review Icelandic tax law.

Hólm, the band's bass player, called the case, "one of the strangest farces I've ever encountered" in a radio interview last year. "We do not feel like we have done anything wrong and from day one when we started signing contracts it was specifically stated that we were going to be very honest about such matters and pay all our taxes here in Iceland," he said.

The band’s legal costs - which amount to around £330,000 - will be paid by the State Treasury of Iceland.