Rep. Phil Hart
A northern Idaho lawmaker engaged in a tax battle with state and federal officials reportedly owes far more in unpaid taxes than previously revealed.
The Spokesman-Review says that Athol Republican Representative Phil Hart of Athol owes nearly $700,000. Federal tax liens against Hart’s businesses and IRS liens against Hart concerning his back income taxes add up to about $644,000, and a state income tax judgment pushes the total to almost $700,000.
Hart says he doesn’t owe that much money.
Hart stopped paying income taxes in 1996 when he filed a lawsuit against the IRS contending the tax is unconstitutional. A federal tax judge in Spokane ruled against him in 2000, and Hart conceded in 2003 when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up the case.
Earlier this month, an Idaho legislative panel launched an investigation into whether Hart used his public office to get special treatment concerning his tax problems. Hart also faces conflict-of-interest questions that revolve around his fight over unpaid taxes and his seat on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
Of the most recent tax problems to become known, some of the liens include unpaid federal withholding taxes. The federal government considers that a serious offense because it gives credit to employees for having paid those taxes. (AP)
