Swedish tax woes began for Ulvaeus last year. The initial amount was reduced, but now the Swedish government has presented an additional bill for 2004 and 2005.

Since 1990 Björn Ulvaeus has managed the income derived from his participation in ABBA – as both a performer and song writer – through an offshore company in the Netherlands Antilles. Last year the Swedish government requested Ulvaeus pay 87 million kronor (approximately 9.5 million Euros), though the amount was reduced to 65 million earlier this year.

Now the Swedish government is requesting an additional 16 million kronor (1.7 million Euros) for 2004 and 2005–though most expect this amount will also be negotiated down. For now, Björn Ulvaeus has an outstanding tax bill of 81 million kronor, or 9 million Euro.

ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, launching one of the greatest international music careers of all time. Björn Ulvaeus co-wrote Waterloo with Benny Andersson and Stig Andersson. In 2005 viewers across Europe selected Waterloo as the greatest ESC song of all time during the Congratulations show.