It’s that special time of year again; yes that’s right, tax season! Once again there are millions owed by celebrities from coast to coast and even a few international tax outlaws this year. Some have made amends with the tax man, paying off their debts in full, others are continuing their maneuvers to evade him. But he always wins no matter how famous you are or how much money you have. This year’s list has some repeat offenders, some who have served some time behind bars and some newbies, but what they all have in common is that they are now on Uncle Sam’s radar.
1) $53,500,000: Ty Warner
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The creator of the beloved ‘Beanie Babies’ allegedly forgot about $3 Million of interest he earned back in 2002 from money he had in his Swiss Bank Account. He was charged with Federal Tax Evasion in September 2013 and ordered to pay a $53.5 million penalty. He avoided jail time by paying the penalty.
2) $18,000,000: Manny Pacquiao
This International boxing star is in a world of hurt with not only the US taxing authorities but international ones as well. Both the Philippines and the US claim the boxing champ owes millions in unpaid taxes. In the Philippines, his home country, the star owes approximately $50,000,000 and here in the US he owes another $18,000,000. His bank accounts have been frozen in the Philippines and a lien has reportedly been placed on one of his Manila properties. Here is the USA he has unpaid taxes for years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010.
3) $11,000,000: Chris Tucker
This jokester had both the IRS and the State of GA knocking on his door to collect in 2013. The Feds say Mr. Tucker owes them about $11.5 million, while the Peach State filed a lien against the comedian for $592,594.82 for unpaid taxes from 2007, and another lien for $392,332.16 from unpaid 2006 taxes. The Georgia Debt has since been paid in full but the Federal Government is still looking for their pay day.
4) $10,600,000: Sinbad
Sinbad, also known as David Adkins, has been a bad boy when it comes to paying his taxes. In 2009 he was ranked #10 out of 250 worst tax offenders in the state of California. I guess he isn’t yet willing to give up that title. He apparently owes California around $2.3 Million & the IRS $8.3 million from a slue of years ranging from 1998-2006 and 2009-2012. He plans to file bankruptcy in an attempt to expunge his tax debts.
5) $4,301,769: Mary J Blige
This Grammy winner and the taxing authorities are no strangers. Ms. Blige allegedly owes both the State of New Jersey & the IRS a boatload, with her tax debt spanning over 3 years (2009-2011). New Jersey is attempting to collect $901,769.65 & the IRS hit her with a $3,400,000 tax lien back in May 2013.
6) $ 4,029,352: Katt Williams
Comedian Kat Williams had a lien released late in January of 2013 for unpaid taxes from 2007. Unfortunately he’s cleared only one hurdle as he still owes the IRS another $4 million and change: $3.2 million for unpaid taxes from 2008 & $829,352 for 2009 unpaid taxes.
7) $1,800,000: Lauryn Hill
Fugees singer Lauryn Hill spent 3 months in Danbury Federal Correctional Institution this past year for tax evasion. She failed to file her tax returns in 2005, 2006 & 2007 resulting in a $1,800,000.00 debt to the IRS. Three months behind bars was then followed up with 3 months of house arrest.
8) $1,200,000: Matthew Knowles
Beyonce’s Dad, and former Manager, has made a lot of money off his daughter’s career in the past but unfortunately Uncle Sam wants some of it too. The IRS filed a lien against Mr. Knowles for unpaid taxes for 2010 & 2011 to the tune of $485,575.95 & $728,004.89 respectively.
9) $1,100,000: Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins aka Ja Rule spent 28 months behind bars for failing to file & pay taxes for a total of 5 years & stiffing the government approximately $1.1 million bucks. He was released from prison in May of 2013 and served the remainder of his sentence, 2 additional months, at home in New Jersey.
10) $1,000,000: Fat Joe
Fat Joe Finally served his 4 month prison sentence for tax evasion, this past August, for failing to pay his federal taxes in 2007 & 2008. The original sentence was for 2 years but was adjusted to 4 months behind bars, $15,000 in fines & a year of supervised release.
11) $798,692: Jermaine Dupri
Just when he thought he was all done with the tax man…Mr. Dupri recently paid off a $3 million tax lien for taxes owed from 2006 to the the IRS. He also paid off a $500,000 debt to the state of Georgia, only now to find out that he actually still owes the IRS $798,692.35 for unpaid taxes for 2008, 2010 & 2011. Maybe it’s time to find another accountant?
12) $798,033: MC Hammer
The IRS is bringing the hammer down hard on MC for failing to pay taxes from almost 2 decades ago. The singer and his wife owed a heaping $798,033.48 for unpaid taxes in 1996 & 1997. That amount of debt is just ‘too legit to quit’ for the IRS.
13) $741,028: Kelis
Kelis is having some bicoastal tax problems! NY is looking to collect from her for years 2004 & 2010. The State of California also claims she owes them some cash, along with the Feds who want their money from her as well. In September of 2013 she paid $400K to the IRS and as a result 3 liens were lifted. The California and NY liens are still active and collecting interest though.
14) $644,543: Michael Madsen
The ‘Kill Bill’ star & ‘Reservoir Dogs’ actor had 2 separate liens filed against him for unpaid taxes in 2004 and 2006. The 2004 lien was for $317,443.95 and for 2006 the bill was $327,099.47. Even tough guy actors are no match for the tax man!
15) $580,000: OJ Simpson
OJ makes the list again. In March 2013 another tax lien was filed against the former NFL player and acquitted murder suspect. The IRS & the State of California are after him for a grand total of $580,000. Uncle Sam wants $190,000.00 for unpaid taxes from 2007-2011 and the Golden State is requesting $318,566.04 for the year 2000.
16) $546,270: Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dog knows how to get the taxing authorities off his back. He pays them! A lien was filed back in February 2013 alleging that the rapper owed for unpaid taxes from 2009 & 2011 and in April the lien was released. Well done Snoop.
17) $438,914: Terrell Owens
In February 2013 the Federal Government placed a lien on the former NFL star for failing to pay taxes for 3 years. In 2005 he owed a total of $294,661.71, in 2007 he owed $46,504.00 & for 2009 the bill came in at $97,747.81, making for a grand total of (drumroll please) $438,913.52, which he paid in full. The lien was officially released in June 2013.
18) $350,000: Stephen Baldwin
Mr. Baldwin pled guilty in his case with the State of New York regarding the $350,000 he owes for unpaid taxes from 2008-2010. He made a deal with the prosecutor, giving him 5 years to pay back the money owed. However, if he misses any payments he will be serving time in jail.
19) $340,000: Jacqueline Laurita
The state of New Jersey Division of Taxation is coming after one of their ‘Real Housewives’ Jacqueline Laurita, to the tune of $338,337.05, for allegedly not paying her taxes. It is unknown what years Ms. Laurita owes for but a lien has been filed against her.
20) $260,000: Courtney Love
Courtney Love is in trouble with Uncle Sam yet again this year. A lien was filed in July of 2013 alleging the singer owes $3,236.23 from 2009 and an additional $263,624.78 from 2011. And all this after she finally cleared up her unpaid taxes from 2007 which totaled over $224,000.
21) $237,027: Master P
Rapper Percy Miller has the State of California breathing down his neck for unpaid taxes, totaling $237,027.41, from the years 1999 & 2000.
22) $193,719: Dean Cain
The IRS is like Kryptonite for this superman actor. He reportedly owes close to $200,000 from failing to pay his 2011 & 2012 taxes.
23) $168,339: Robert Patrick
This Terminator 2 villain, who could morph into any form, probably wishes he could morph into a new identity right now. He owes the State of California $170,000 for unpaid taxes from 2007-2009 and they don’t forget. You can rest assure Robert Patrick “They will be back’ to collect.
24) $122,929: Teri Polo
This is not Teri’s first dance with the tax man. The IRS filed a lien against the “Meet the Parents’ actress, for failing to pay $122,929.07 of unpaid taxes from 2011.
25) $98,065: Plaxico Burress
Well Mr. Burress got the IRS off his back by coughing up the money he owed for 2007 & 2009, and those liens were released on January 8th, 2013. However, now the State of NY is claiming he owes $59,000 for unpaid taxes.
26) $57,615: K-Fed
In February 2013 the IRS filed a lien against K-Fed for unpaid taxes from 2009 and 2010. In 2010 he had a spot on Celebrity Fit Club, a reality based TV show, & in 2009 he had a bit part in ‘American Pie: The Book of Love’, which went straight to DVD. The Feds are expecting K-Fed to shape up and pay his debt.
27) $56,718: Lindsay Lohan
Documents from the State of California Franchise Tax Board, dated 2/2013, state that Ms. Lohan has yet another tax problem to straighten out in 2013. The actress is looking at her 3rd straight year of issues with a taxing authority. Back in 2009 she owed around $93k but was able to pay that off, only to be hit again with a $140k debt for 2010! And now she is looking at another $57k owed for 2011.
28) $40,000: Sheree Whitfield
This Georgia housewife, from the reality hit “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”, has to face reality and pay up! Uncle Sam claims she owes for unpaid taxes from 2009 & 2010 totaling $41,752.83.
29) $24,874: Phil Laak
The state of California says Poker star Phil Laak owes some unpaid taxes. Apparently, Phil neglected to pay all of his taxes in 2010 & 2011. Now the authorities are coming to collect their part of the winnings, totaling $24,874.00.
30) $15,521: Pete Rose
A new year and a new tax bill for Pete Rose. This time the State of California has filed a lien against the former MLB player to the tune of $15,520. Small potatoes considering his past tax liens of $120k, for unpaid 2009 & 2010 taxes, and the $973k he owed the IRS for taxes unpaid from 1997-2002, which has since been paid in full.
