[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1723-E1724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IRS PROTECTS FAMOUS DEBTORS

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, my chief of staff, Bob 
Griffitts, received an email from a constituent, Mr. Joe Steuer, 
regarding Rev. Al Sharpton and his tax debt. I would like for my 
colleagues and other readers of the Record to read this email and one 
of the news stories about Mr. Sharpton, published in the November 19, 
2014, edition of the Long Island, New York, newspaper Newsday, that 
explains his tax situation in more detail.
  Mr. Sharpton has a national television program, which gives him more 
respect than many people feel he deserves. Most people with tax debt 
would not be given as much leniency as the IRS is giving Sharpton.

     From: Joe Steuer
     Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 11:47 AM
     To: Griffitts, Bob
     Subject: Al the Elite Sharpton & Taxes
       Bob, the tax issue regarding Rev. Al Sharpton strikes a 
     nerve with me personally as a few years ago I was contacted 
     by the IRS. I had not filed or paid taxes for 1 year, an 
     oversight on my part none-the-less I was wrong, admitted my 
     mistake and paid the back taxes, interest and penalties. I 
     did ask the IRS employee at the start of the investigation 
     for consideration as I have never had any issue with the IRS 
     ever. The request for consideration fell on deaf ears.
       Thusly, my reaction to high profile individuals like Rev. 
     Sharpton is one of disdain which appears to me to be class 
     warfare, the elites vs. the people.
       What efforts are being made to represent the people as well 
     as holding the ``elites'' to the same standards that the rest 
     of live by?
       For your information, I am going to write to MSNBC and ask 
     how they condone this blatant disregard of the law? If I do 
     happen to receive a response I will pass it along to your 
     office.
       I do look forward to receiving a response from Congressman 
     Duncan.
     Joe Steuer.
                                  ____


                     [From Newsday, Nov. 19, 2014]

             Sharpton Says He's Working Out Tax-Debt Issues

                       (By Anthony M. DeStefano)

       The Rev. Al Sharpton, responding to new stories about his 
     tangled finances, acknowledged Wednesday that he and his 
     civil rights organization still owe back taxes and 
     significant penalties but asserted that both were up-to-date 
     in paying their ``current'' taxes. Seeking to put a positive 
     spin on the issues, Sharpton said he and his National Action 
     Network have worked out installment payment plans to wipe out 
     the tax debt.
       Sharpton said that the National Action Network owes about 
     $400,000 in what were unpaid payroll taxes and an additional

[[Page E1724]]

     $400,000 in penalties--down from about $1.9 million assessed 
     in 2008. But when asked at a news conference what he 
     currently owes in personal back taxes, interest and 
     penalties, Sharpton answered ``I don't know'' and indicated 
     he might not say even if he had the numbers on hand.
       ``We are paying current taxes and my current one [taxes], 
     while keeping up with installments,'' Sharpton told reporters 
     at Network headquarters in Harlem.
       He said he hoped to reduce the balances further through 
     negotiations. In a story Tuesday, The New York Times reported 
     that Sharpton at one point had more than $4.5 million in 
     current state and federal tax liens against him and his for-
     profit business.
       Sharpton has two businesses, which the Times said face 
     $717,329 in tax liens. The story said Sharpton personally 
     faced more than $3 million in federal tax liens and $777,657 
     in state liens.
       An IRS spokesman said he could not legally discuss 
     individual taxpayer matters. A spokesman for the New York 
     State Department of Taxation and Finance said Wednesday that 
     Sharpton had two current personal state liens totaling 
     $779,577 and two totaling $457,968 for one of his private 
     communications firm.
       Those balances, including penalties, have actually risen 
     over the years, the spokesman said. For privacy reasons, the 
     spokesman couldn't discuss any payment plans. Sharpton 
     speculated new stories about his taxes were politically 
     motivated because of his high profile and ties with Mayor 
     Bill de Blasio and President Barack Obama.
       ``After negotiations in 2009, there was a signed document 
     which worked out a payment plan to pay off those [debts],'' 
     said Sharpton, referring to the back federal taxes.
       The Network's 2013 federal charitable organization filing 
     showed the group had income of $4.9 million in contributions 
     and grants against $5.1 million in expenses. Sharpton was 
     paid a salary of $241,545.

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