Romeo Santos Sues Accounting Firm for Malpractice Over Financial Mistakes He Says Cost Him Millions
Latin singer Romeo Santos has sued accounting and business-management firm BDO USA, alleging professional malpractice and “gross negligence” that left him with unpaid tax liabilities and cost him millions of dollars. The case matters because Santos says the firm mishandled core financial responsibilities for nearly seven years despite presenting itself as an entertainment-industry specialist.
Santos hired BDO’s predecessor firm in 2016, before BDO acquired it in 2021, and dismissed BDO in 2023. He alleges it mishandled tax payments and filings, submitted an allegedly incoherent New York tax return that led to an audit, and failed to claim foreign-tax credits on royalty income; he also says it withdrew money from his account without authorisation after being fired. The lawsuit seeks at least $2.3 million for penalties, interest, replacement-accountant costs, the disputed withdrawal and other losses; BDO had not commented by the time of publication.
- Romeo Santos alleges BDO’s mistakes caused at least $2.3 million in losses.
- Claims include tax filing failures and an unauthorised account withdrawal.
- BDO had not responded publicly to the lawsuit.
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Romeo Santos is a US-born singer best known for bachata, a music style with roots in the Dominican Republic. He first found success with the group Aventura and later became a major solo artist, with income from concerts, recordings, royalties and international business dealings.
Large entertainers commonly rely on accountants and business managers to handle tax returns, payments and financial records across different places. Tax rules can vary between US states and countries, while foreign-tax credits are intended to prevent the same income being taxed twice.
BDO USA is part of an international professional-services network and provides accounting and advisory work. Professional-malpractice claims generally argue that a paid adviser failed to meet the standard of care expected in their work, leaving the court to decide whether there was wrongdoing and what losses, if any, should be recovered.