Steven Chung (Tax Attorney, Los Angeles), Actor Terrence Howard Hit With A Judgment For More Than $900,000 In Back Taxes While Claiming It Is Immoral To Tax Descendants Of Slaves:

On February 22, 2024, actor Terrence Howard was issued a default judgment making him liable for federal back taxes. Howard, who received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in “Hustle and Flow,” has been in numerous films and television shows since the 1990s. … The judgment states Howard is liable for a total of $903,114.72 consisting of tax, penalties, and interest. …

Howard left a voicemail with the lead prosecutor, Maria Elizabeth Ruwe, claiming it is “immoral” for the United States to charge taxes to the descendants of slaves:

Four hundred years of forced labor and never receiving any compensation for it. Now you have the gall to try and prosecute and charge taxes to the descendants of a broken people that you are responsible for causing the breakage… In truth, the entire United States should, by default, become the property of the descendants of slaves. But since you do not have the ability [or] the courage to do it, let’s try this in court … We’re gonna bring you down. …

As for Howard’s claim about the immorality of taxing descendant of slaves, the IRS considers these reparation arguments to be frivolous. The IRS specifically states that there is no “Black Tax Credit” or other reparation-related income deductions. Making frivolous tax claims can result in civil and criminal penalties, including fines and even imprisonment.

Hollywood Reporter, Terrence Howard Ordered to Pay Nearly $1M in Federal Tax Evasion Case