13 Bailed-Out Banks Owe Back Taxes

Lawmaker uncovers total of at least $220M in unpaid bills
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 19, 2009 11:25 AM CDT
13 Bailed-Out Banks Owe Back Taxes
CEOs of TARP recipients testify before the House Financial Services Committee. It is unknown which TARP recipients owe back taxes.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

At least 13 of the firms that got billions of dollars from the federal government owe back taxes, and their tab exceeds $220 million, Rep. John Lewis said today. What's more, that could be just the tip of the iceberg, the AP reports. The House Ways and Means subcommittee, which Lewis chairs, made the discovery by examining the tax records of just 23 bailout recipients. “If we looked at all 470 recipients, how much would they owe?” Lewis said.

“This is shameful. It is a disgrace,” the Georgia Democrat said. “We are going to get to the bottom of what is going on here.” He declined to name which 13 firms he’d ferreted out. TARP recipients were forced to sign documents saying they had no unpaid taxes, but the Treasury never asked for their tax records. (More TARP stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X