Several Hollywood celebrities are on California's new annual list of hundreds of tax evaders who collectively owe the state 143 million dollars in unpaid taxes, while O. J. Simpson is off the list, a report said Friday.
Singer Dionne Warwick, actor Burt Reynolds and actor-comedian Sinbad still make this year's roll of California taxpayers with the largest delinquent income tax bills, but Simpson, who was on last year's list, was taken off the list because he is in prison, the Los Angeles Times reported.
This year's ranking includes 250 names, among them a few are famous or local notables, but most are low-profile individuals and businesses, according to the report citing the state's Franchise Tax Board.
John Chiang, California's state controller and chairman of the Franchise Tax Board, said the annual list, intended to pressure those with large bills to pay up before the April 15 tax deadline, represents only a fraction of the 6.5 billion dollars in personal income taxes that go unpaid each year.
With a unpaid bill of 1.5 million dollars, former football star and actor Simpson was on last year's list, but he was taken off this year's list after being sentenced into prison in Las Vegas for his role in robbing two sports memorabilia dealers.
In addition to paying the taxes, people can be removed from the list when they file bankruptcy and arrange installment payments, or officials deem the debt uncollectable.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2009)
