John Tavares says he has no regrets about signing with the Maple Leafs, even as he fights a tax bill that could leave him owing millions more.
The Toronto veteran was in Tax Court of Canada on Tuesday challenging an $8 million demand from the Canada Revenue Agency tied to the signing bonus he received when he joined the Leafs in 2018. That bonus was worth just over $15 million and was part of the seven-year, $77 million deal he signed after leaving the New York Islanders.
At the time, Tavares was still living in the United States. He paid tax on the bonus at the lower 15 percent rate because he viewed it as money meant to persuade him to sign. The CRA later decided the payment should be treated as regular salary, and is now seeking roughly $6.8 million in tax plus another $1.2 million in interest.
Asked whether an unfavorable ruling and a bigger tax hit would make him wish he had stayed somewhere else, Tavares was blunt.
“No. The finance wasn’t the only reason for signing. I knew I was in an amazing position, I’m in a very lucrative contract, I wasn’t counting every last penny, but obviously I wanted to maximize my opportunity along with where I was gonna live, gave the best career possible and as successful as you can be,” he said.
He went further when reflecting on the decision.
“So I don’t think you ever live with any regrets. You just try to make the best decisions you can in that moment and follow your values, your ethics, your heart… Regardless of whatever the ruling is, I don’t have any regrets.”
Tavares’ lawyer, Justin Kutyan, said the dispute is not about money that has already changed hands. Instead, the issue is which country has the right to tax the bonus. He also said the case could shape how Canadian teams pursue free agents going forward.
Tavares arrived in Toronto as a free agent from the Islanders in 2018, and the contract structure was designed to lock in the deal’s value. During negotiations with then-Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, the annual value became a major hurdle until Tavares set an $11 million line and called late at night to get the agreement done.
No ruling has been issued yet. The judge will hear the remaining witnesses and arguments before deciding whether the signing bonus should be treated as an inducement or as regular employment income. The final outcome remains unsettled.
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