Dan Meyer of the TickMarks blog made a request of me: “Present or past entertainers O. J. Simpson, Sinbad (Adkins) and Dionne Warwick are part of California’s Delinquent Taxpayers List. Each owes over $1,000,000 in income taxes and each have had tax liens initiated prior to 2000…Meanwhile, Russ Fox of Taxable Tax is likely to have more on this story.”
We covered this list a week ago, but we didn’t highlight all the names. So here are some more famous names:
Dionne Warwick, S. Orange, NJ; $2.655 million
Sinbad Adkins, Oak Park, IL; $2.139 million
Orenthal Simpson, Miami, FL; $1.435 million
Brian Holland, Las Vegas, NV; $984,000
It’s difficult for the FTB to impose judgments against out-of-state taxpayers. True, the rulings are on the books, and interest (and penalties) can continue to accrue. Dionne Warwick, though, lives in New Jersey. If she doesn’t set foot in California, the FTB would have to fight in New Jersey courts to get any money. Luckily for the FTB, Dionne Warwick is “working with the FTB to resolve her tax problems,” according to this article. She blames the problems on negligent business managers.
Similar situations exist for entertainer Sinbad, and composer Brian Holland. Nevada is an especially tough jurisdiction for California–because of various actions of the FTB, including the Hyatt case.
And then there’s O.J. Yes, Mr. Simpson, who has his own current legal problems, probably doesn’t care too much about the FTB. In any case, if he ever raises money–or finds the real killer–that money will be heading to the Goldman family.
I do think that listing these names is a good strategy. Some people will pay because they will be ‘shamed’ into it. Some, perhaps like Dionne Warwick, are shielded and had no idea that they owe money. Of course, some are scofflaws and no amount of posting names will have an impact. In a few months, I’ll inquire with the FTB and see how much of an impact this listing has made.