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  • Apr 30, 2008 11:21 pm US/Central
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Reality Check: Al Franken's Tax Issue

Reporting
Pat Kessler
(WCCO) Every time Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez plays the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome, he leaves a little something behind.

 It's TRUE.

 Visiting athletes pay income tax to the state of Minnesota every time they play in a game here. So do rock bands on tour, and actors and celebrity speakers.
That's why Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken has gotten into trouble.
WHAT WE KNOW...

 Is that Franken, the actor, writer and comedian, was paid millions of dollars for speaking in 19 states since 2003.
However, Franken said his accountant didn't tell him and his wife that he had to pay taxes in every one of those places.
"Our accountant made a mistake," said Franken. "A nd Franni and I relied on our accountant and he made a mistake. And I am fixing it and making it right ."

But that's NOT THE WHOLE STORY.

Franken said he overpaid taxes where he lived at the time -- in Minnesota and New York, and he underpaid his taxes in the 17 other states where he earned money.

"No one likes being called a liar," Franken said. "No one likes being called a tax cheat."

Here's WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

The Franken campaign released summaries of all state taxes he paid and what he owes now, but he's not revealing if he had unpaid taxes before then.

And he's not making his actual income tax returns public.

That's Reality Check.

To check the resources for this Reality Check, click on the links below:
Nonresident Entertainer Tax Returns
Tax Foundation: The Continuing Spread of "Jock Taxes" 
Franken's Tax Breakdown From Franken Campaign

 

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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