Tax Law Blog

Former congressman charged by the IRS with failing to file tax returns

Written by on behalf of Robert J. Fedor, Esq., L.L.C. | Aug 6, 2015 12:00:00 PM

Many of our Cleveland readers will recall the name of former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds. His name is likely to be even more familiar to readers in Chicago, where Reynolds represented the city's far southeast side in Congress. The former Rhodes Scholar resigned from the House after a 1995 statutory rape conviction.



He has periodically made headlines over the years, including recently when the ex-congressman found himself accused by the Internal Revenue Service of failing to file tax returns for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Reynolds faces up to a year in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

The Harvard University graduate and former political science professor has struggled mightily over the years, beginning with the statutory rape conviction and related charges. Before he was released from prison on those charges, he was convicted of unrelated bank fraud charges, earning him additional prison time.

Last year he was deported from Zimbabwe for an immigration violation. And now he faces accusations that he failed to file tax returns. His attorney says the former congressman has a defense for not filing: Reynolds didn't earn enough money in those years to be required to file. According to the IRS, a single person under the age of 65 had to have a gross income of $10,150 to be required to file last year. The gross income amounts vary for the years for which Reynolds is charged.

For anyone facing similar accusations, it's good to know that in most cases, the IRS is inclined to work things out with you and your tax attorney and bring you into compliance. In some situations, the government will press criminal charges, however, which is why it makes sense to have an attorney experienced and skilled not only in negotiating with the IRS, but also in criminal defense should matters progress that far.