8 Athletes that had Problems with IRS Tax Debts

1. Darryl Strawberrytax crime.
Dodgers star, Darryl Strawberry first got in to trouble5. Willie McCovey
with the IRS in 1994 when he was put underHall of Famer Willie McCovey, like many other athletes
investigation for tax fraud. The IRS tacked him withwho ran in to tax trouble, did so by forgetting to claim
tax evasion, and he had to pay back $350,000 in backcash made during autograph signing. While McCovey
taxes, serve 3 years of probation, six years of homepleaded guilty to the crime, he also claimed to have
confinement, and complete 100 hours of communitycommitted it unknowingly, since he had a professional
service.handle his accounting. He was sentenced to two years
2. Lawrence Taylorof probation and fined $5,000.
Former Giants linebacker, Lawrence Taylor filed an6. O.J. Simpson
incorrect federal income tax return back in 1990. TaylorAlthough infamous for more than his athletic abilities,
pleaded guilty to the tax charges in 1997, and wasO.J. Simpson upset the IRS enough to be put on the
punished with three months house arrest, five yearsCalifornia tax shame list. His tax debt was over $1.5
probation and 500 hours of community service formillion, and he stayed on the list for more than a year.
income tax evasion.7. Jesse Owens
3. Pete RoseThe late 1930’s Olympic winner Jesse Owens got
Baseball favorite, Pete Rose, also got in to somehimself into trouble with the IRS. After the Olympics,
trouble with the government in 1990, when he filed aOwens tried multiple business ventures in the United
false income tax return. Despite his celebrity status,States to profit off his newly found fame. However,
Rose was sentenced to five months in a correctionalone of his ventures lost Owens a fortune and
facility, three months in a community treatment center,rendered him unable to pay his full tax liability. As a
1,000 hours of community service and a $50,000 fine.result, Owens was forced to declare bankruptcy.
4. Helio Castroneves8. Boris Becker
The recent controversy around Indy 500 racer HelioFamed tennis player and bad boy, Boris Becker, ran
Castroneves and his supposed $5 million tax debt hasright in to tax trouble when it was discovered his
shed light on the tax problems sports stars can get inapartment was not his priority residence, as previously
to. He is currently being tried for evading taxes on aclaimed. As a result, he was given two years
licensing deal that he claims to never have received aprobation, fined $500,000, and ordered to pay
dime from. Only time will tell whether the Indy 500 andexpensive court fees.
dancing with the stars celebrity actually committed the