As the saying goes, “The only thing certain in life is death and taxes.”
Terrence Howard is finding that out the hard way, as he now owes the IRS nearly $1 million. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered the “Empire” star to pay $903,115 in back taxes, interest and penalties.
This case has been going on since 2022, with the Oscar-nominee avoiding the IRS’ attempts to collect $578,000 in income taxes the agency claims the actor didn’t pay from 2010 to 2019. After trying for months to get a response from the actor, the Justice Department alleges that all it received from the “Hustle & Flow” star was a voicemail message to the case’s lead tax attorney, in which he said in part that it’s “immoral for the United States government to charge taxes to the descendants of slaves.”
“Four hundred years of forced labor and never receiving any compensation for it,” Howard said in the message, per court transcripts. “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.”
Once he was cut off, Howard called back and concluded the message: “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.”
Despite his tough talk, the “Iron Man” actor never engaged with the federal government, so here we are.
Howard has a point: This country undoubtedly owes a major debt to the descendants of slaves. Hell, there are politicians now trying to claim that slavery was a good thing. However, this message will not be taken seriously when it comes from someone who owes almost $1 million in back taxes — it will be perceived as self-serving and another avoidance tactic.
“The Best Man” franchise star has been discussing pay equality a lot lately, and maybe this huge number hanging over his head is the reason why. He’s been very vocal about being underpaid for both “Empire” and “Hustle & Flow.” In December, he filed suit against CAA for “breach of fiduciary duty.”
Here’s the thing: The IRS does not care if you were unfairly compensated while starring on a hit TV drama. It also doesn’t care if you received exceptionally low pay for your Oscar nominated role. It is all about the numbers, and there’s no fighting that...no matter how famous you are.