Forest Whitaker: Oscar winner, tax ower
Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker owes $1.27 million in state and federal taxes, records show.
The 47-year-old Texas native made his debut in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and has starred in a slew of hits, including "Platoon," "The Color of Money," "The Crying Game" and "The Last King of Scotland."
What's owed:- The state of California filed a $106,059 lien against Whitaker and his wife on Jan. 15, 2008 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
- The Internal Revenue Service filed a $299,035 lien against the couple on Oct. 11, 2007.
- The state of California filed a $92,087 lien against the couple on Oct. 23, 2006.
- The IRS filed a $312,114 lien against the couple on April 11, 2006.
- The IRS filed a $465,465 lien against the couple on June 10, 2005.
His side:
Whitaker's lawyer and a publicist did not discuss what led to the liens being filed.
"Our client made a payment plan with the IRS and the California Franchise Board that was agreed to by both parties," lawyer Steve Mather wrote in an e-mail. "Our client has paid most of it off - and the rest will be paid off promptly. There is no controversy."
Kwame Kilpatrick's former lawyer deep in debt
The Foot in Mouth World Champion of 2008, former Kwame Kilpatrick lawyer James Parkman III, famously scolded Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy last year for not paying taxes, yet records showed he owed $23,602 in income taxes. Parkman's tax debt, however, has ballooned to $493,721, and the folksy, Alabama lawyer recently filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy to flush away most of his other debts, records show.
Parkman and his wife listed $164,884 in assets and more than $2 million in liabilities -- a good chunk of which is tax debt.
What's owed:- Parkman owes $493,721 in state and federal taxes dating back to 2005 and property taxes on a Panama City Beach condo (see below) overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, according to court filings.
His side:
Parkman blamed the debts on failed real estate deals, according to an interview with The Birmingham News.
Uncle Kracker crumbles, pays up
Uncle Kracker didn't owe money to Uncle Sam, but his state and local tax payments somehow drifted away until The Detroit News contacted the Harrison Township musician. Until Wednesday, Kracker owed $37,132 in state and property taxes, records show.
Turns out the 35-year-old countrified rocker with an everyman's charm shares everyman's difficulty paying taxes on time.
Kracker, scheduled to perform Saturday at the Stars & Stripes Festival in downtown Mount Clemens, is a long-time pal of Kid Rock and rose to fame as the DJ in Kid's Twisted Brown Trucker band. His hits include "When the Sun Goes Down," a duet with Kenny Chesney, and the tunes "Follow Me" and a cover version of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away."
Kracker, whose real name is Matthew Shafer, will release in September “Happy Hour,” his fourth solo album and first in five years.
What was owed:
- On March 25, the Macomb County Treasurer filed this certificate of forfeiture -- a preliminary step that could lead toward foreclosure -- against Shafer and his wife for unpaid 2007 property taxes. According to the county, the couple owed $23,820 in delinquent taxes from 2007 and 2008.
- The state filed a $13,312 lien against Shafer on Feb. 2 in the Macomb County Register of Deeds office. According to the lien, he owes Single Business taxes from 2005 and 2008.
His side:
The Detroit News e-mailed Uncle Kracker's spokesman Tuesday night seeking comment on the delinquent tax bills. By mid-day Wednesday, Shafer had paid $23,820, according to Macomb County Treasurer Ted Wahby.
“Maybe you helped us get our money,” Wahby said.
The state does not comment about individual tax cases so it could not be verified that the state taxes had been paid. And a lien release had not been filed as of Wednesday afternoon in the Macomb County Register of Deeds office.
But in a brief e-mail, Kracker's spokesman Glenn Fukushima wrote: "His taxes are current."
Check out the video for Kracker's song "In a Little While."
Category: Sally Kellerman
Posted by Robert Snell (The Detroit News) on Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 11:30 AM'Hot Lips' mouths off to tax man
Sally Kellerman, the Academy Award-nominated actress who starred as Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in the film "MASH," owes $75,000 smackers to the state of California, records show.
Kellerman, 72, who wasn't nominated for her role in Rodney Dangerfield laugh-a-thon "Back to School," or "Meatballs III: Summer Job," released a CD of cover songs this year.
What's owed:- The state of California filed a $75,038 tax lien against Kellerman and her husband, super producer Jonathan D. Krane, on March 27 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
Their side:
The couple's publicist, Lauren Lewis, did not dispute the debt or explain why the taxes weren't paid in the first place.
"His business manager handles his financial issues such as this and while there was a problem with certain taxes being paid it is being worked out now," she said in an e-mail.
Check out Kellerman rocking out to Oingo Boingo in this clip from "Back to School."
Category: Kelis
Posted by Robert Snell (The Detroit News) on Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 12:07 PMIRS sours on 'Milkshake' singer Kelis
Her "Milkshake" brings all the boys to the yard, and R&B singer Kelis could teach you, but she'd have to charge a ton to pay off the $10,458 she owes the Internal Revenue Service, records show.
The singer, real name Kelis Rogers, shot to widespread fame in 2003 with the saucy hit "Milkshake." In 2007, she attended the North American International Auto Show charity preview in Detroit, helping peddle the Ford Edge crossover.
The pregnant singer has other money issues, too. She is locked in a bitter divorce with rapper Nas and recently filed court papers asking for $20,000 to pay for baby gear.
What's owed:- The IRS filed a $10,458 lien against her for unpaid taxes on Feb. 18 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
Her side:
Kelis did not dispute the debt and blamed it on her former accountant.
"Kelis engages a business management company to handle her financial matters, which includes preparing and filing her tax returns," the singer's spokeswoman said. "As a result of the current divorce proceedings and close examination of her financial picture by her team, she was shocked to discover it was not handled properly six years ago. Needless to say she is no longer represented by the same accountant and is in the process of paying all back taxes, interest and penalties owed."
K-Fed's company dodges tax bill
A company owned by Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline, a ridiculed rapper and former background dancer, owes $14,371 in federal taxes, records show.
Federline's company, Gooseneck Productions Inc., was set up to handle his "artistic" endeavors, which included the much-maligned tune "PopoZao" and the poor-selling 2006 CD "Playing with Fire."
Federline's finances came into focus last year during a custody battle with Spears. Aside from strip club bills and fancy clothes, court records showed his production company spent $841,129 and made only $544,075.
What's owed:- The IRS filed a $14,371 lien against the company on May 18 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
His side:
Federline's accountant, Laurence Kantor, could not be reached for comment.
Check out K-Fed touting his musical skills below.
Hair band frontman scalped by IRS
His hair band's album might have been called "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich," but ex-Warrant lead singer Jani Lane is deep in debt to the IRS, public records show.
Lane, 45, who was busted late Wednesday in California for suspicion of DUI, owes $121,024 in federal income taxes, records show.
The Ohio native's former band peaked in 1990 with the suggestive hit Cherry Pie, but Lane later left the band. He rejoined last summer for a short-lived reunion but they have since parted ways.
What's owed:- The IRS filed a $121,024 lien against Lane and his ex-wife on April 4, 2005 in the Summit County (Ohio) Recorder's office. According to this lien, Lane owes income taxes from 1996 to 2003.
His side:
Lane's manager did not return repeated phone calls and e-mails seeking comment.
Oakland commish endures bust, bills
It's been a rough couple weeks for Oakland County Commissioner Kim Capello. The Novi Republican was arrested in April after police say they found him engaged in a consensual sex act with a woman outside a Novi bar. Now, tax bills are piling up and public records show Capello owes $68,509 in state and federal taxes.
The 56-year-old lawyer and former Novi councilman pleaded guilty to indecent exposure May 5 and was sentenced to probation, alcohol treatment and 50 hours of community service.
What's owed:- The IRS filed a $65,225 lien against Capello and his wife Monday in the Oakland County Register of Deeds office. According to this lien, the couple owes income taxes from 1998 and 2003-07.
- The state filed an $817 lien against the couple for unpaid income taxes on May 27 in Oakland County, according to this public record.
- The state filed a $2,467 lien against Capello on Dec. 23 for unpaid income taxes, according to this public record.
Their side:
Capello was unaware of the $817 tax lien but said he did not pay quarterly taxes on time and has arranged a payment plan for the other debts. The taxes should be paid off in two or three years, he said.
“I’m in private practice. I don’t always get paid on time or on a consistent basis,” he said. “If everybody paid me on time, I could pay my bills.”
His inability to pay taxes on time does not reflect on his ability to serve Oakland County, he said.
“One has nothing to do with the other,” he said.
Tax man bucks Rhinestone Cowboy crooner
The Rhinestone Cowboy is getting cards and letters from people he don't even know, alright. They're called tax collectors.
Platinum-selling singer Glen Campbell owes $282,224 in state taxes, records show.
The 73-year-old, who lives in Malibu, Calif., has released 70 albums during his career and sold 45 million records.
What's owed:- The state of California filed a $282,224 lien against Campbell and his wife on March 19 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds office.
His side:
A Campbell spokesman said the debt is being disputed but did not elaborate about what led to the lien being filed.
“It’s going to be settled in the next couple of days,” spokesman Sandy Brokaw said. “It’s not something his manager wants to talk about. We’re not giving the reasons why,” the taxes weren’t paid.
Brokaw said his client does not have any financial problems.
“He has a beautiful home in Malibu. Glen Campbell, at the age of 73, is in a position to go to the country club and play golf just about every day. If he’s not on the road, he’s hitting golf balls. If that’s destitute…
“He’s worked quite a bit, he saved his money and there’s no problems," he added. "I wish you and I were as well set up as he is.”
'The Facts of Life' star stuck in tax case
"The Facts of Life" star Lisa Whelchel is mired in a messy tax dispute that even Mrs. Garrett may not be able to fix. According to the state of Pennsylvania, Whelchel owes $668,501 in delinquent taxes tied to a controversial real-estate deal.
The 47-year-old Texas native starred as snobby "Blair Warner" on the classic sitcom, which ran from 1979-88. Today, she's a stay-at-home mom, home-schooling advocate and author.
What's owed:- The state of Pennsylvania filed a $668,501 lien against Whelchel on Sept. 3, 2008, in the Dauphin County Prothonotary office.
Her side:
Whelchel was among hundreds of members of a limited partnership that owned the U.S. Steel Building, a Pittsburgh skyscraper located a slap shot away from Mellon Arena, home of the 2009 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
The partnership paid $293 million for the 64-story skyscraper in 1984 but a combination of debt, changes in the tax code and other problems led to the building's sale in 2005. Out-of-state partners, like Whelchel, were left with massive tax obligations while in-state partners were able to offset "phantom" gains thanks to the state's tax laws, Whelchel’s accountant David Schnaufer said in an interview.
“It's not justified," he said. "All I can tell you is she got a tax deficiency assessment regarding a phantom gain,” on the building’s sale.
Schnaufer said the dispute likely will lead to a lawsuit soon.
