Former Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint faces a £1.8 million (US$2.3 million) bill after losing a legal battle with tax authorities.

Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the magical film franchise, was ordered to pay the money in 2019 after British tax agency HM Revenue and Customs investigated his tax return seven years earlier.

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The agency said Grint wrongly classified £4.5 million of film residuals – money from DVD sales, TV subscriptions, streaming rights and other sources – as capital assets rather than income, which is subject to a much higher tax rate.

Grint’s lawyers appealed the ruling, but after years of debate, a trial judge ruled against the actor this week. Judge Harriet Morgan said the funds “derived substantially their entire value from Mr Grint’s activities” and were “taxable as income”.

Grint (36 years old) starred in all eight Harry Potter films between 2001 and 2011 as the wizard’s best friend, and it is estimated that he earned about 24 million pounds from this role.

He previously lost a separate court battle over a £1m tax refund in 2019.