Tag Archives: IRS

Professional Athletes With Tax Debt Problems

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Darryl Strawberry
Dodgers star, Darryl Strawberry first got in to trouble with the IRS in 1994 when he was put under investigation for tax fraud. The IRS tacked him with tax evasion, and he had to pay back $350,000 in back taxes, serve 3 years of probation, six years of home confinement, and complete 100 hours of community service.

2. Lawrence Taylor
Former Giants linebacker, Lawrence Taylor filed an incorrect federal income tax return back in 1990. Taylor pleaded guilty to the tax charges in 1997, and was punished with three months house arrest, five years probation and 500 hours of community service for income tax evasion.

3. Pete Rose
Baseball favorite, Pete Rose, also got in to some trouble with the government in 1990, when he filed a false income tax return. Despite his celebrity status, Rose was sentenced to five months in a correctional facility, three months in a community treatment center, 1,000 hours of community service and a $50,000 fine.

4. Helio Castroneves
The recent controversy around Indy 500 racer Helio Castroneves and his supposed $5 million tax debt has shed light on the tax problems sports stars can get in to. He is currently being tried for evading taxes on a licensing deal that he claims to never have received a dime from. Only time will tell whether the Indy 500 and dancing with the stars celebrity actually committed the tax crime.

5. Willie McCovey
Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, like many other athletes who ran in to tax trouble, did so by forgetting to claim cash made during autograph signing. While McCovey pleaded guilty to the crime, he also claimed to have committed it unknowingly, since he had a professional handle his accounting. He was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $5,000.

6. O.J. Simpson
Although infamous for more than his athletic abilities, O.J. Simpson upset the IRS enough to be put on the California tax shame list. His tax debt was over $1.5 million, and he stayed on the list for more than a year.

7. Jesse Owens
The late 1930s Olympic winner Jesse Owens got himself into trouble with the IRS. After the Olympics, Owens tried multiple business ventures in the United States to profit off his newly found fame. However, one of his ventures lost Owens a fortune and rendered him unable to pay his full tax liability. As a result, Owens was forced to declare bankruptcy.

8. Boris Becker
Famed tennis player and bad boy, Boris Becker, ran right in to tax trouble when it was discovered his apartment was not his priority residence, as previously claimed. As a result, he was given two years probation, fined $500,000, and ordered to pay expensive court fees.

Weighing The Benefits of Debt Settlement

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Debt
settlement is an agreement with a creditor to accept a lower amount of
money to resolve the money owed. Debt settlement can be attempted with
the original creditor, but it is usually after the debt has been sold to
a collection agency that debt settlement comes into play. There is, of
course, no guarantee that the current creditor will settle. Larger
agencies are usually easier to settle with than smaller ones, but if
you’re in trouble it’s an option that should be looked into no matter
what. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of debt settlement here.

The Positive Aspects of Debt Settlement

Debt
settlement can be extremely helpful to a lot of people. For starters,
you can be free of a large debt for less than the full amount owed.
Obviously, this can save you more than a small amount of money. In many
cases, the debt amount can be reduced by 40-60%. Your credit status will
be improved by no longer showing a delinquent item. In some cases,
creditors will even agree to delete negative information already
supplied to the credit bureaus. Also, debts resolved through debt
settlement are no long subject to collection calls or other collection
action.

The Negative Aspects of Debt Settlement

There
are a few negative aspects to debt settlement, but most of them should
be entirely avoidable to an informed consumer with a competent agency on
your side. Creditors do have the option of reporting the settlement to
the credit agencies as a settled debt rather than as paid in full, so
make sure you know in advance what they plan to do in that regard.
Additionally, make sure you receive the terms of the settlement IN
WRITING from the creditor. If you do not, they may sell the remainder of
the debt to a collection agency and you may not be able to prove that
the debt was legally settled. Additionally, collection agencies are
required to report any forgiven debt of more than $600 to the IRS, which
can then be counted as taxable income for you. Talk to a tax
professional about that if possible. If you have a negative net worth,
you may be able to avoid being taxed on forgiven debt.

Obviously,
there may be more pitfalls or advantages to debt settlement as regards
your specific situation. Only by speaking to a debt settlement
professional can you be made aware of these issues. A good debt
settlement company will be reputable and accredited and be staffed with
professionals who can examine your personal situation to determine what
is best for you. Most companies will be able to give you a free
consultation without any obligation to go through with doing business
with them. Try contacting a few companies if you’re not comfortable with
the first one you speak with. It’s always good to be aware of how much
they’re charging you and what you might save by going with another
agency. Once you find an agency you’re comfortable with, you may
discover that debt settlement is the right thing to do for you.

How To Successfully Gain Credit Card Debt Forgiveness

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It is possible for you to gain credit card debt forgiveness in the present financial system. Debt forgiveness is a much more viable option to declaring bankruptcy. A lot of people with over $10000 in card debt have been able to get off up to 60% of their debts. If you are seeking debt relief, debt settlement and consolidation are the most popular options open to you. Read on to learn more on how you can get rid of credit card debt.

There is a proposed program in place in the financial industry that gives credit card companies the ability to write off debts for certain categories of customers. As the government grant the institutions relief, consumers should also benefit from debt forgiveness. You might qualify if you are enrolled with a debt management plan. Up to 40% of debts can be forgiven. Banks and the credit card companies don’t want pardon programs to be known to customers.

The credit card company can also wipe off what you owe if it falls under bad debt. Writing off bad credit card debt helps companies clear up their books. This makes them financially healthier. According the Nilson Report, financial institutions are expected to write off over 390 billion dollars over the next five years.

You can contact the company directly or through a debt settlement agent to negotiate a reduction in your debt. Negotiation can bring down your debt down by as much as 50% depending on your negotiation skills. When your debt is settled you are required by the IRS to report the write off amount as income on your tax forms.

Debt consolidation involves signing up with a company that negotiates your loans and consolidates them into one convenient monthly payment. It usually comes with less interest. Check the internet for a list of accredited DMPs.

These are the various options available for you to get rid of your credit card debt. However, when debt is written off your credit score could be reduced by as much as 60-130 points. This makes it a bit difficult for you to get credit at favorable interest in the next few years.

Check out the link below

Debt Information Center the internet’s No.1 center for free information on debt management and consolidation.