Celebrity tax evaders who owe the IRS money
Most Americans are scrambling across the United States to get their taxes filed before the deadline expires. Some filthy-rich celebrities, meanwhile, likely are not as concerned, feeling as though they are too awesome and untouchable to be bothered.
This year, procrastinators have three extra days to delay the inevitable with the deadline being pushed to April 18 (not April 15) in honor of Emancipation Day. With this extension, perhaps it can help those celebrities who have been getting themselves in financial trouble throughout the year.
But let’s not get too crazy.
That’s because history proves that certain celebrities have been caught with their hands in the IRS’s cookie jar. Whether its foreclosure, tax evasion or straight up defiance, the seemingly rich and famous are not immune to the financial troubles that affect us poor common folk.
Some celebrities probably think they’re slick and can outsmart the IRS. Anything is possible, but the celebrities mentioned below definitely are not among them:
Wesley Snipes (Amount owed: $17 million)
Snipes try to avoid paying taxes, claiming he was not a U.S. resident. Considering he was born in Florida, Uncle Sam didn’t seem too interested in what he had to say. He appealed his charges and was released on bail. But in Dec. 2010, he self-surrendered at a federal prison to start his three-year sentence. He still needs to pay the $17 million in taxes along with interest and penalties. See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya.
Nicholas Cage (Amount owed: $6.6 million)
Cage claimed his epic financial meltdown wasn’t his fault, pointing the finger at his former business manager. The IRS couldn’t care less and it forced him to payback the amount (plus penalties) to the state of Nevada, where one of his multimillion dollar homes foreclosed on. Leaving Las Vegas seemingly wasn’t a voluntarily option, but rather a court order.
Dionne Warwick (Amount owed: $2.7 million)
Warwick never was prosecuted, but she has been named one of the worst debtors in California by the California Franchise Tax Board. She is still in the process of paying back what she owes along with the penalties.
Sinbad (Amount owed: $2.7 million)
It seems times are getting tough for Sinbad. Since the 80’s and 90’s are over, and he is no longer an A-list comedian, the IRS is having trouble collecting taxes from him. This may have to do with him declaring bankruptcy in 2009.
Willie Nelson (Amount owed: $32 million)
This renowned country singer settled at $16.7 million. He decided to pay the IRS back by releasing a double album entitled The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories? The IRS helped the process by selling nearly everything he owned.
Martha Stewart (Amount owed: $220,000)
Stewart failed to pay taxes on her East Hampton home in New York. She was hit with $220,000 worth of back taxes. Her excuse was she wasn’t spending much time at the home. Apparently the IRS didn’t find this to be a good enough reason.
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