Schwarzenegger hit with $79,000 tax lien

November 28, 2009

California's Governator is dealing with more tax woes. This time, though, they're federal.

And they're personal.

Schwarzenegger Addresses State's Water System, Signs Legislative Package

The IRS filed a tax lien against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for $79,064 in May.

The governor's apparently overdue federal taxes came to light Friday when celebrity news site TMZ.com posted a copy of a lien document reportedly filed with the Los Angeles County recorder's office.

That document shows that Schwarzenegger owes the IRS  $39,047.20 from 2004 and $40,016.80 from 2005.

Ahnold's office blames the unpaid taxes on "a minor paperwork tracking discrepancy."

Apparently, there were problems with information returns, filings that alert the IRS to payments made to employees or vendors (such as W-2s, 1099s), submitted by the governor. The IRS assesses a $50 penalty for each late-filed information return and for the filing of incomplete or incorrect information. The maximum such fine per year is $250,000.

Representatives of the governor say they have contacted the IRS. "The issue is completely unrelated to the payment of taxes," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said in a statement. "The governor is resubmitting certain information to the IRS and we fully expect that the matter will be resolved and the lien expunged without any penalty assessed upon the governor.

The IRS better hope that McLear is correct and that the governor doesn't owe any delinquent federal taxes. Otherwise, Uncle Sam just might get one of those infamous California tax IOUs.

Related posts:

Want to tell your friends about this blog post? Click the Tweet This or Digg This buttons below or use the Share This icon to spread the word via e-mail, Facebook and other popular applications. Thanks!

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
Tropical Storm Arthur’s deadly arrival underscores need for disaster preparation

June 18, 2026

Tropical Storm Arthur as it moved toward the Texas cost on June 17. Its deadly…

Read More
Tax Season 2026 Continues!

We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.

Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.

But enough about Uncle Sam’s tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y’all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.

The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.

And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments