Tax Breaks: The Lights, Camera, Reality Television Edition

Forbes

3 days ago

Some reality TV stars have faced tax issues of the years.
Here's something that you might not know about me: I once appeared on a reality television show.
It wasn't as exciting as 'Survivor' or 'Amazing Race'—there were no competitions, fabulous prizes, or tropical locations. Instead, the show, 'Surviving Motherhood,' was taped in a local coffee shop and my first home. It was a documentary-type series that focused on challenges faced by young parents. My worry—and the reason that I agreed to be on the show—was sleep-related, as one of my children suffered from night terrors (if you've never witnessed them, I can promise they live up to the name). Shortly after the experience, I told a local newspaper, 'It was a lot of fun, but we're done.'
That isn't to say I'm not a fan of reality TV—I am (well, some shows). I just think about them differently now. Over the years, that's informed some of my reporting on the stars of those shows as they've struggled with tax issues. Unlike when I was on 'Surviving Motherhood' (where we weren't compensated), reality TV stars today can earn a substantial amount of money, both on the show and through related endorsements. That can sometimes land those stars in trouble. That's what happened to Julie and Todd Chrisley, who rose to fame as stars of the reality television show 'Chrisley Knows Best.' The successful series followed the Chrisley family, including adult children and Todd Chrisley's mother, inspiring several spinoffs. Part of the series' appeal was the family's lavish lifestyle.
In 2019, the Chrisleys were indicted on charges including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.
On June 7, 2022, a jury convicted the Chrisleys on all counts. Todd received a 12-year prison term, and Julie received a seven-year sentence. (Their tax accountant received a three-year sentence.)
This week, President Donald Trump announced that he was pardoning the Chrisleys. In a video that appeared on X (formerly Twitter), Trump called the Chrisleys' daughter, Savannah Chrisley, who spoke at the Republican Convention last July and appeared on Lara Trump's Fox News show early this month, to share the news.
The announcement capped off a remarkable string of pardons: President Trump has pardoned at least five well-connected people who either pleaded guilty or were convicted of tax fraud and other crimes. That message, argues Howard Gleckman, is likely to further erode public confidence in the income tax system and increase public perceptions that the wealthy don't pay their fair share of taxes. And the pardons are likely to further lower morale at the IRS and among career employees at the Justice Department, where investigators and attorneys worked for years to prosecute these cases of tax fraud.
Of course, not all failures to pay result in criminal charges. As Peter Reilly notes, 'If you are really stubborn, you can hold out on paying the IRS for a really long time. With luck, the statute of limitations on collection might bail you out.' That's because if the IRS does not collect within 10 years of assessing a tax, you are generally home free. However, there are complications and ways in which the 10-year clock can be stopped—just ask Glen Stoll. Stoll, a Washington resident, accumulated quite a tax bill in the early 2000s. The IRS brought an action against him to collect, and, according to Judge Thomas Zilly, throughout the litigation, Stoll repeatedly sought extensions and failed to comply with deadlines. In the end, Zilly ruled that the IRS assessment of $1,265,461.89 was 'reduced to judgment.' The 10-year clock will no longer tick, writes Reilly, because it has been smashed.
One way to avoid judgment is to resolve your tax issues before they escalate. One way out? A settlement tool known as a 'qualified offer.' A qualified offer allows taxpayers to send their own version of a '90-day letter' to resolve the matter. Here's what's great about it: If a taxpayer makes a valid qualified offer that is not accepted, but later receives a decision that is at least as favorable as the qualified offer, then the taxpayer is eligible to recover attorneys' fees from the date of the qualified offer through the end of the dispute. The prospect of recovering attorneys' fees enables taxpayers who otherwise would be unable to afford to battle the IRS to do so. Making a qualified settlement offer can help settle a tax dispute quickly.
Of course, when making overtures to the IRS, you'll want to choose a legitimate tax professional, including choosing a tax return preparer. The IRS has warned taxpayers away from seeking out a ghost tax preparer. A ghost preparer is a tax preparer who isn't on the IRS' radar because they do not have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). To remain hidden, a ghost preparer will accept payment from a taxpayer to prepare a tax return but will not sign the return, which means the return will appear to be self-prepared. (For e-filed returns, the ghost preparer typically prepares the return but refuses to digitally sign as the paid preparer.)
That can backfire spectacularly, since taxpayers are responsible for what's on their tax return. Ghost preparers often tout "big and fast" tax refunds to taxpayers by including incentives to cheat. That's what happened in Georgia, where a ghost tax preparer, Allen Brown, trained his employees to prepare false income tax returns. Since taxpayers could receive inflated tax refunds by participating in the scheme, Brown and another individual offered clients two bold filing options: 'Standard' or 'I'm Not Scared.' The 'Standard' option generally resulted in a fraudulent tax refund of $2,000 to $9,000, while the 'I'm Not Scared' option generally resulted in a fraudulent tax refund of $14,000 to $30,000. After a guilty plea, Brown faces up to 20 years in prison.
Although it can sometimes feel like the bad eggs get all of the attention in the media (cautionary tales, I hope), the reality is that there are loads of great tax professionals out there. Last week, I announced that I was giving my series focused on getting to know tax professionals a reboot. I was really blown away by the response—I've received so many nominations already. If you'd like to recommend a tax professional to be featured, send your suggestions to [e-mail] with the subject: Getting To Know You Tuesday. Self-nominations are totally okay and encouraged.
Next week promises to be another exciting week as the Senate tackles the reconciliation bill—so stay tuned.
Over the weekend, my house will be tuning in to the UEFA Champions League Final (it's Paris Saint-Germain v. Inter Milan). The title and a lot of money are at stake, but neither team is hurting for assets. Both made our Forbes list of the world's most valuable soccer teams, though not at #1. You can click through the list to see who's at the top here.
Enjoy your weekend,
Kelly Phillips Erb (Senior Writer, Tax)
When it comes to taxes, a first-time job can be intimidating.
This week, a taxpayer asked:
My teenage daughter got her first job this summer. What do we need to tell her about money and taxes?
Congratulations to both of you! Summer is a great time to earn a little money and gain real-world work experience for first-timers, college students, and workers looking for flexibility.
I'm assuming your daughter will be an employee at her new job. However, if that's not clear, she should have that conversation before she gets started. Importantly, a worker's classification as an employee or an independent contractor isn't something you decide on your own— it depends on the job. Employees can work full-time or part-time, seasonally or year-round, temporarily or permanently. The frequency or time of year you work doesn't determine the classification. What matters most is control. The general rule is that you are an independent contractor if the person paying you has the right to control or direct only the result of the work, not the manner in which it will be done. In other words, if you're simply tasked with getting the job done—regardless of how you do it—you're likely an independent contractor. However, if the person paying you gives you instructions about when, where, and how to do the work, you're likely an employee. Ultimately, it comes down to the job description, not whether you're seasonal or paid hourly.
Your daughter may not have to file a tax return (depending on her age, income, and filing status), but she will still be asked to fill out a tax form. That's because even if you meet the exemptions for income taxes, your employer is still subject to certain reporting and tax requirements. When you accept a job as an employee or as an independent contractor, you're required to fill out some paperwork to assist your employer with those requirements. That typically means Form W-4 (for employees) or Form W-9 (for independent contractors). You must provide your tax ID number (for most taxpayers, that's your Social Security Number) and indicate whether you are subject to backup withholding on the form.
The new Form W-4 can be tough to figure out for some taxpayers. As a first-timer and a dependent (I'm guessing), your daughter may not need to withhold any federal tax other than payroll taxes, including Social Security and Medicare. But if you're not sure, you can use the IRS withholding estimator for extra help.
Keep in mind that while there are exemptions available for the filing of federal income taxes, those same exemptions might not be available for state and local tax purposes. In fact, some state and local tax authorities impose a tax on the first dollar of earned wages with no personal exemptions. If you are subject to state and local taxes and do not have withholding from your pay, you may need to make estimated tax payments to avoid penalties and interest come tax time. If you're not sure about the rules, check with your tax professional or your state and local tax offices in advance.
One last piece of advice: Often, employee benefits are limited to full-time, permanent employees, but that isn't always the case. Eligible benefits might include health insurance coverage, gym memberships, banking plans, commuter and transit benefits, employee discounts, and vacation time. And don't forget about retirement or other incentive plans: I qualified for a great employee discount and Gap's stock plan as a part-timer during law school. Be sure to ask about benefits upfront.
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Do you have a tax question or matter that you think we should cover in the next newsletter? We'd love to help if we can. Check out our guidelines and submit a question here.
Identity theft reports rose by 9% nationwide last year, representing the first year-over-year increase in identity theft reports since 2021. Reported incidents increased by nearly 100,000 between 2023 and 2024, suggesting that identity thieves have found new ways to evade existing protections, such as using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create more convincing scams.
Where is identity theft the worst? Florida residents reported the most issues of any state in 2024, with 528 identity theft reports for every 100,000 people living in the state, according to an analysis of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data by All About Cookies, which focuses on online privacy and data security. The only other state with a rate in excess of 500 reports per capita was neighboring Georgia, at 517 reports per 100,000 people.
Identity theft reports by state (2024)
At the other end of the spectrum, South Dakota had just 94 per 100,000 people. No other state had fewer than 100 reports per capita, although Vermont was close, with 101 identity theft reports for every 100,000 residents.
The data suggests that the South is a 'genuine identity theft hotspot,' being home to nine of the top 10 cities with the highest number of reported identity thefts. The South also leads the way in terms of increases in identity theft reports. Overall, identity theft reports rose in 37 states, decreased in 12 states, and remained consistent year over year in two states.
For a look at some tips to help you protect yourself, check out this article.
The IRS has open-sourced Direct File.
The recently passed House Bill 1 (the 'Big Beautiful Bill') included a provision directing the Treasury to terminate Direct File, the IRS online tax program that allows taxpayers to file for free. The bill would also require the creation of a task force to design a better public-private partnership between the IRS and private sector tax preparation services, replacing both Free File and Direct File.
But the program isn't going away quietly. This week, the IRS open-sourced Direct File—more specifically, it released the codebase underlying the free filing program on GitHub, a cloud-based platform for software development that allows developers to store, share, and collaborate on code projects. The result is that it has been released into the public domain.
It's unclear whether the post is officially attributed to the IRS, but it seems to be the case. If it is, that's a big deal. This is because open-source software is free and publicly available for use, modification, and sharing with and by anyone. Some famous examples include Audacity (sound editing) and Mozilla Firefox (a popular browser).
If the tax code is going to be enforced by machines, and the preparation calculated and handled by the same, the rules those machines follow should be legible and contestable, argues Andrew Leahey. The open-sourcing of Direct File hints at a future where regulatory logic and automated decision-making aren't hidden, but published like case law—reviewable, revisable, and maybe even improved by the very public it serves.
📅 June 16, 2025. Due date for individuals living and working abroad to file their 2024 federal income tax return and pay any tax due.
📅 September 30, 2025. Due date for individuals and businesses impacted by recent terrorist attacks in Israel.
📅 October 15, 2025. Due date for individuals and businesses affected by wildfires and straight-line winds in southern California that began on January 7, 2025.
📅 November 3, 2025. Due date for individuals and businesses affected by storms in Arkansas and Tennessee that began on April 2, 2025.
📅 June 16-19, 2025. Latino Tax Fest. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration required.
📅 June 18, 2025. Avalara CRUSH on Tour. Bridgeport Art Center (Skyline Loft), 1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609. Registration required.
📅 June 26, 2025. Avalara CRUSH on Tour. Iron23 (Flatiron District), 29 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010. Registration required.
📅 July 18-19, 2025. Tax Retreat "Anti Conference." Denver, Colorado. Registration required.
📅 July 21-23, 2025. National Association of Tax Professionals Taxposium 2025. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration required.
📅 July 22-24, 2025. Bridging the Gap Conference. Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse Street, Denver, Colorado. Registration required.
📅 July 28-30, 2025. Tax Summit 2025. Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City. Registration required.
As Congress debates the tax bill, who famously said, 'The difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.'
As Congress debates the tax bill, who famously said, 'The difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.'
(A) Dave Barry
(B) George Carlin
(C) Will Rogers
(D) Mark Twain
Find the answer at the bottom of this newsletter.
The IRS published Internal Revenue Bulletins 2025-22 and 2025-23.
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) sent a second letter to leadership of the Senate Finance and House Ways & Means Committees urging 'modifications to troubling tax proposals' in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the House and being considered by the Senate, including a provision that would limit the deductibility of salt and local taxes (SALT) by certain businesses.
On May 16, 2025, Moody's downgraded the United States' credit rating from Aaa to Aa1. The downgrade signals a decrease in confidence in the country's creditworthiness. According to Moody's, federal spending has increased while tax cuts have reduced government revenues. As deficits and debt have escalated, and interest rates have climbed, interest payments on government debt have increased. Without changes to taxation and spending, Moody's anticipates limited budget flexibility, with mandatory spending, including interest expenses, expected to rise to approximately 78% of total spending by 2035. 'If the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is extended, which is our base case, it will add around $4 trillion to the federal fiscal primary (excluding interest payments) deficit over the next decade,' says Moody's. It is the first time in history that all three major credit rating agencies (Moody's, S&P Global, and Fitch Ratings) have downgraded the U.S. credit below its top rating.
Fried Frank announced that Brett Fieldston has joined the firm as a tax partner in New York. Fieldston joins from KPMG, where he was a principal in the international tax group, the co-leader of the group's international asset management team, and the international tax lead of the firm's US-Australia Corridor.
Michelmores announced the promotion of Gemma Shepherd, who advises individuals, families, business owners, and trustees on a variety of matters, including lifetime succession planning, wills, powers of attorney, and complex estate administration. Her promotion was part of a pair that marked a significant milestone for the firm, as the proportion of female partners rose to 51%.
Baker McKenzie announced that Keith Hagan has rejoined the firm's Miami office as the latest partner to join the North America Tax Practice. Hagan brings experience in renewable energy and project finance tax.
KPMG LLP announced its next management committee, effective July 1, 2025. Deputy Chair and U.S. Managing Principal-elect Atif Zaim said in response, 'Our team's focus will bring together the power of our firm, leveraging the best AI-enabled solutions and technologies to meet our clients' needs.'
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If you have tax and accounting career or industry news, submit it for consideration here or email me directly.
Here's what readers clicked through most often in the newsletter last week:
You can find the entire newsletter here.
The answer is (C) Will Rogers—with a caveat.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935), American rustic comedian playing with a lasso whilst writing himself some notes, 1920. Original Publication: People Disc - HK0481 (Photo by)
Rogers was an American performer and humorist born in 1879. He became well-known for his political wit, with his quips typically appearing in newspaper columns or on radio broadcasts.
Rogers was most popular during the 1920s and 1930s, and this quote is typically assumed to have been made around the time of the Great Depression. Ironically, at that time, the federal income tax rates were lower than most in our history, with marginal rates ranging from 1.5% to 25%.
And here's the caveat. There is no record of the original source of the quote with this wording. While most folks agree that Rogers said it, there's no confirmed date of publication or speech transcript.
Rogers' comment was included in a list of tax quotes published last week—more than a few public figures, great minds, and clever observers have made their views about taxes clear. With Congress 'deep in its sausage-making with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' a follow-up post included a dozen or so more.
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