Wesley Snipes arrested for Tax Evasion

[gtalum]

Further, this goes beyond the usual IRS attack for nonpayment of taxes. He is being charged with actually stealing $12 Million from the government in fraudulent refund requests. This is not the usual shady IRS dealings.

[Lindaloo]

You can get by without filing for three years. Where in the article does it state about the guy he is dealing with?

I can just about bet that the firm he was using is the one who committed fraud.

An indictment is probable cause. That means the federal prosecutor was using statements from a federal tax officer/officers. That in no way proves guilt. I will wait until all the facts are out before I judge anyone. I used to not feel that way, but after what I have witnessed in the past few months well, I am on the fence.

As to the 12 million, who was filing the taxes? Wesley? I doubt it. When you trust someone like that you usually get bitten. If he did not file any returns, then how did they come to that figure? I know, they assessed it.

[gtalum]

He hasn't filed in 6 years. In 1997 he filed amended returns for 1995 and 1996, claiming fraudulent refunds for those years.

If he's innocent and it's really all his accountant's fault, he would turn himself in. He's had some shady behavior in the past, which makes it seem unlikely he's innocent.

[Lindaloo]

I understand. I do not hold anyones past against them so that is a moot point IMO. Where does it state he did not turn himself in?

I am still on the fence until I see more evidence.

[dizzyfish]

As to the 12 million, who was filing the taxes? Wesley? I doubt it. When you trust someone like that you usually get bitten. If he did not file any returns, then how did they come to that figure? I know, they assessed it.

See this link. http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/page ... geId=3.2.1

I heard about the person doing the filing (Kahn) on the news last night. Hubby had heard of him before. They even showed a flier from Ohio for the guy's oganization. He sounds like a real scumbag. Kahn is supposedly out of the country.

[gtalum]

Here is alonger article on the story.

[TexasStooge]

Even if you're a celebrity, you still gotta do your taxes. Better safe than sorry, right?

[Lindaloo]

One possible defense for Snipes is that he could claim the others duped him into thinking his IRS claims were legal when in reality they were not.

"The wiretaps are going to be a key piece of evidence for the government to establish what did Wesley Snipes know and when did he know it. And how sophisticated was he in this whole tax scam," observed former federal prosecutor Stephen Crawford.

This is my thinking. He did not know what they were doing. Why would he even worry about money? He probably entrusted them to do his taxes and they didn't. They used him in the scam.

[gtalum]

Whether he knew what he was doing was illegal or not, he's responsible. Have you ever read the fine print when you sign your tax return? You are liable, even if you have it professionally prepared.

[Lindaloo]

Whether he knew what he was doing was illegal or not, he's responsible. Have you ever read the fine print when you sign your tax return? You are liable, even if you have it professionally prepared.

Hey, if you entrust someone, then you will not be held accountable. Your statement is SO untrue. I just went through this.

[gtalum]

Hey, if you entrust someone, then you will not be held accountable. Your statement is SO untrue. I just went through this.

Tax returns are different from the 941 employers' tax. FOr one thing, in the 941 situation, you have the "corporate veil" to protect you.

You are responsible for your personal tax return, no matter who files it. Read the fine print.

[Lindaloo]

What corporate veil? You are kidding me right? This was both their personal AND business 941's. Better google again. Anyone can punch right through an LLC or Incorporation.

[gtalum]

Anyone can punch right through an LLC or Incorporation.

Only if the issue in question is crimnal. I don't need to google, I have a good attorney. Maybe it's different in Mississippi but in Florida, unless it can be proved that my behavior is criminal, my corporate veil cannot be pierced.

[Lindaloo]

This is not Mississippi, this is Alabama. Hope you never have to go through it. LLC is not worth the paper it is written on. Even good attorneys laugh when you leave the office after attaching an LLC.

gtalum.. do you pay taxes on your Inc. or LLC every year?

[gtalum]

I don't have an LLC. I have an S-Corporation. Much more liability protection than an LLC. I'd rather have a C-Corporation, the safest of all, but this works out much better tax-wise.

As an S-Corp, I file both a corporate and a personal return, but the profit or loss form my corporation gets rolled into my personal return. Fortunately, through completely legal machinations and inventory maneuvering, my business never shows much profit and often shows a loss.

I do all of my taxes myself, though I do consult an accountant for some questions of legality. If I do ever get nailed for something, it will be my own fault. I never do anything illegal or even "gray" on my taxes, so at least I know I'm only looking at interest and penalties if it does happen.

[Lindaloo]

That is the way it should have been done here. It is now though.

[cycloneye]

Snipes is in Namibia

There is an arrest warrant against him,but he is in Africa filming.

[feederband]

Any updates on this?

[cycloneye]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16109063/



BREAKING NEWS just out about the arrest of Wesley Snipes.