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Busted! These Stars Thought They Could Outrun The Taxman

Don't make the same mistakes these celebs did!

Tax Man

Credit: 34037864 - desperate accountant head in hands surrounded by bills on paper tape, 1950s style office.

These days, it’s pretty hard to get away with tax evasion, especially when you’re in the Hollywood spotlight. But, of course, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Here’s our list of 5 celebrities who tried to avoid the reach of the IRS.

 

Wesley Snipes

Best known for his vampire-hunting role in the Blade trilogy, Snipes was charged with 3 misdemeanor counts of failing to file his income taxes from 1999-2001. Unfortunately, in 2008, the IRS tracked him down, sentencing Snipes to 3 years in prison for owing over $7-million in back taxes, interest charges, and penalty fees.

 

Martha Stewart

Following a short prison sentence for insider trading, the famous television personality, Martha Stewart, was tagged for not paying $222,000 in taxes on her mansion in East Hampton, New York State.

Willie Nelson

In 1990, the taxman caught up with the revered country rockstar, slapping him with a bill for $16-million for dodging his taxes in 1984. Unfortunately, since the case was drawn out over several years, coupled with mounting interest rates and late penalties, Nelson soon owed a whopping $32-million. Thankfully, the IRS grew tired of waiting and cut Nelson’s bill in half, so that he only owed $15-million, which he soon paid off following the success of a new album, aptly titled, “The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?”

 

Iggy Azalea

The noted popstar, originally from Australia, got busted by the IRS for failing to pay a nearly $400,000 worth of income taxes for the 2014 fiscal year. She wasn’t the first musician to be convicted of such a crime and she certainly won’t be the last.

 

Pamela Anderson

A former Playboy model and the star of the 90’s show Baywatch, Pamela Anderson actually ranked among California’s Top 250 residents with the largest tax debts from the 2010 fiscal year. According to state documents, she owed $493,144 and was hit with a lien for it soon after.   

 

Expert Tax Advice From The Rebound Finance Team

When it comes to tax issues, you need to deal with them head-on. Always make sure you get in contact with the appropriate officials to verify that everyone is on the same page. Then you need to come up with a plan based on the issue you’re dealing with. If you owe back taxes and are struggling to come up with the cash, we suggest our tax debt relief program. For more information on this and the other debt relief options we provide, visit www.reboundfinance.com.