NEWSChris Tucker Reportedly Sued By IRS Over $9.6 Million Debt
It's time for Chris Tucker to pay up.
The IRS filed a federal lawsuit against the Rush Hour star over the millions of dollars he owes in back taxes, it was reported.
"Mr. Tucker is a comedian and actor who was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the late 1990s and early 2000s, starring in the Rush Hour film series. The early tax years at issue in this case date back to this time," the lawsuit, obtained by Radar, reads.
OK! reported earlier this month that the actor owes the IRS over $9.4 million in back taxes.
The lawsuit was the government's latest attempt to collect the money, as the comedian was hit with a federal tax lien on June 4. He's reportedly in debt to the government from the years 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
The 50-year-old is accused of owing $4,489,647.01 for 2002, $2,124,082.86 for 2006, $2,341,269.29 for 2008 and $468,598 for 2010. Radar reported Tucker was also hit with a separate lien, claiming he owed $253k for 2019.
According to the documents, Tucker filed many of his tax returns years later, with him filing his 2002 return in 2009, his 2006 return in 2008, and his 2008 return in 2009. Tucker's 2010 return made its way to the IRS in 2011.
Tucker may have thought he was out of the woods; however, the IRS conducted a tax examination on several of his tax bills. Looking at his 2008 tax bill, the IRS concluded he underreported the amount he owed. In response, they added $1.6 million to the bill, per the outlet.
The tax examination for his 2012 tax bill reportedly found that the Friday actor underreported his liabilities by $254k.
Tucker now owes a total of $9.6 million to the IRS, Radar reported.
According to the outlet, Tucker had been trying for years to work out a deal with the government to pay off his massive tax debt, but has found no success. In 2012, he offered to pay $25k a month, but the IRS turned the offer down, as it wouldn't even pay off the entire debt in ten years.
The following year, he reportedly proposed he would pay $50k a month for six months, and pay off the remaining amount owed with proceeds from his upcoming projects. (The only film the troubled Hollywood star appeared in at that time was 2012's Silver Linings Playbook, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.)
In addition, Tucker promised to pay a $2 million lump sum payment, meaning he would hand over $2 million in one large payment rather than it be broken up into installments.
The IRS refused Tucker's offers, reportedly insisting he had the means to pay off his tax bill. The defeated father-of-one then failed to hand over the $2 million he promised.
Tucker and his team have been working tirelessly over the years to come up with a payment plan suitable for both the actor and government. He's made several lump sum payments, reportedly paying the IRS $900k in 2011 after selling his Georgia home.
In 2012, Tucker reportedly offered the government another plan, which was rejected — given that Tucker could pay off his debts by liquidating his assets.
Aside from making various payments in different amounts over the years, Tucker last handed over money to the IRS in 2019. “Mr. Tucker made monthly payments in the amount of $37,800 beginning on June 23, 2017, before defaulting on February 27, 2019,” the docs read, per the outlet.
The plaintiff is seeking $9.6 million, which would reportedly allow them to start seizing the defendant's accounts and other assets.
