Former football player O.J. Simpson, singer Dionne Warwick and comedian Sinbad were among the celebrities who showed up on California's Delinquent Taxpayers list.
The state's Franchise Tax Board has published an online list of the top 250 taxpayers with state income tax delinquencies greater than $100,000. Simpson, who is now out on bail after a recent arrest for invading a hotel room in a failed sting operation to reclaim sports memorabilia, is listed owing $1,435,484.17 for personal income tax. A tax lien was filed in his case on Sept. 1, 1999.
Warwick, the former spokesperson for the Psychic Friends Network, tops his debt with a personal income tax bill of $2,665,305.83, with a tax lien filed against her back on July 24, 1997. Meanwhile, Sinbad Adkins is shown owing $2,138,592.62, with his tax lien filed on Dec. 6, 1999.
Last year, a bill passed by the California Assembly required the board to list the top 250 tax debtors. The law excludes taxpayers whose debts are being paid through installments, appealed, litigated or involved in bankruptcy proceedings.
"Hopefully, this action will encourage these taxpayers to come forward, pay what they owe, and quickly help the Franchise Tax Board remove their names from the list," said State Controller and FTB Chair John Chiang in a statement.
