A celebrity on the red carpet will make the entertain section, but a celebrity who didn’t pay their taxes will make the front page. Fame and wealth look glamorous, but when stars get caught up in the lifestyle and forget to pay their taxes, they could be exchanging formal attire for an orange jumpsuit.
Here’s a list of 10 Celebrities with outlandish tax problems.
10 Lauryn Hill – $1.8 million
We can learn a valuable lesson from former Fugees front woman Lauryn Hill . It doesn’t matter how many Grammys you have– the IRS will find you. Accused of evading paying her income tax from 2005-2007, the singer owed $1.8 million dollars and faces a maximum sentence of three years.
9 Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne $1.7 million
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne shared a $1.7 million tax debt in 2005
In 2005, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were ranked as one of the wealthiest couples in Britain. In 2011, the U.S. government came after the couple for two years of back taxes and threatened to seize their L.A. home. Luckily for Sharon and Ozzy, they have six more.
8 R. Kelly – $6.2 million
Sometimes R. Kelly doesn’t know when to stop. His 23 chapter song and music video series “Trapped in the Closet” was forgivable. His years of tax evasion? The IRS is less amused with that. R. Kelly reportedly, “takes very seriously and is already communicating with the IRS.”
7 Al Sharpton – $1.8 million
The outspoken civil rights leader owes the IRS $1.8 million from himself and his associated business from 2008. Recent reports indicate the amount has been cut in half, but no word yet on whether he has paid up.
6 Martin Scorsese – $2.8 million
Starting in 2002, the celebrated Director has had a series of liens placed against him. Scorsese blames his money woes on former financial advisor, Kenneth Star. Five months after Scorsese dropped Starr, the crooked accountant was sentenced to 7.5 years for a $33 million ponzi scheme.
5 Lil Wayne – $5.6 million
Rapper Lil’ Wayne paid off his $1.3 million in 2007, but just months later the IRS placed a $5.6 million lien against his Miami mansion. So much for the star’s plans to retire at 30.
4 Nick Cage – $6.7 million
He owns three castles, two islands in the Bahamas, two yachts, a Gulfstream jet, and 50 cars, but could face losing at least some of his insane wealth. How is the actor handling the situation? Nicolas Cage is suing his business manager, Samuel J. Levin, for incompetence.
3 Gordon Ramsay – £7 million/$2 million
Rumors spread of the extreme screamer and celebrity chef owing £7 million in back taxes to Britain. While it was never rumor confirmed, Ramsey admitted to filing late because his restaurant empire was in financial ruin. In 2010, Ramsey sold off his US restaurants to pay his $2 million U.S. tax bill.
2 Chris Tucker – $15 million
The fast talking comedian couldn’t outrun five years worth of backing taxes and got slapped with a bill for $11.5 million from the IRS and $3.5 million from the state of California.
1 Welsey Snipes – $17 Million
This action hero owes so much money that he is currently serving a three-year sentence in a minimum-security Pennsylvania prison. Verdicts still out on whether he can write off the experience as research for a future roll.
This list just goes to show, the IRS doesn’t care who you are, they will find you if you owe.
Author Jason Lancaster writes for Olson IRS Tax Consulting, a Colorado tax lawyer specializing in tax controversy.
