Celebrity Tax Tuesday - N.J. Houswife "Star" Faces Tax Lien

Celebrity Tax Tuesday - N.J. Houswife "Star" Faces Tax Lien

Reality television couple (Stars? Really?!) Teresa and Joe Giudice slapped again by the IRS.
Teresa, who gained attention on Bravo's "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reality television show, is serving a 15-month sentence for financial fraud at a federal prison in Connecticut.

When she's released in December, Giudice and her husband Joe will have about 3 months together before he heads to a New Jersey federal facility for 41 months as punishment for his guilty plea to, among other things, tax evasion. The staggered sentencing allows at least Joe or Teresa to remain home with the couple's four daughters.

Liens - Not So Celebrated

Just as Teresa's prison term is winding down, the Giudices have been hit with a $551,000 tax lien filed by the IRS against the couple's Montville Township mansion.

NJ Advance Media reports that the federal tax lien was filed with the Morris County, New Jersey, Clerk in October and details unpaid tax bills from 2000 to 2013. Those years were covered in the 41-count federal indictment against Joe Giudice.

The IRS generally files a lien to secure the U.S. government's interest in a taxpayer's property after it has sent the owing owner a notice of what is due and the bill remains unpaid.

The overdue tax amounts the Giudices faced obviously are not normal. They are, after all, larger-than-life-reality-TV “stars.” They also are part of a large fraternity of celebrities who have had tax troubles. 

And hence our Celebrity Tax Tuesday blog. It’s fascinating that people in the spotlight with big money can have bigger problems with it. However, it’s a reality for anyone not paying attention or receiving the proper advice (hint, hint, wink, wink, knowwhatwemean? knowwhatwemean?).