I am not into hip hop music. I had never heard of the individual mentioned below. But “Method Man” is apparently really, really big, so on we go.
Clifford Smith, aka Method Man, is just your typical hip hop artist. He earned a nice living from 2004 – 2007, at least if you looked at his federal tax return. His state return told a different story, though. He forgot to file his New York tax returns. That became more than an “oops” when the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance discovered the omission.
Mr. Smith pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempted tax evasion. If he stays on the good side of the state tax authorities his conviction will be wiped off the books in a few years (he received a conditional discharge).
Mr. Smith’s attorney told the New York Daily News that it’s unfair to call Mr. Smith a tax cheat. I agree completely. Mr. Smith is an attempted tax cheat. He has made restitution of the $106,000 he owed and, if all goes well in about four years there will be no record of this.
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