IRS: CCC owes US $5.8 million in unpaid taxes
Date: 2024-07-05 Author: Robert Beloved Categories: EVENTS
New charges and objections
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has sued the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) for failing to pay more than $5.8 million in taxes for 2022. The IRS said CCC failed to meet its tax obligations, sparking a legal battle in U.S. District Court.
Details of the tax dispute
Tax filings through the end of 2022 showed CCC owed $5,863,195.43, according to information from Saipan. IRS spokesman Martin Humpert noted:
"We advise that taxes, including interest and penalties, have been assessed against CCC. We are seeking payment of this amount, but it remains unpaid, resulting in a lien on the taxpayer's property."
Objections from the CCC
CCC Chairman Edward Deleon Guerrero objected to the allegations:
"I think the IRS made a mistake. We are a government agency, not a small business or corporation. All of our financial transactions, including Social Security withholdings, are processed by the CNMI Department of Finance, not the CCC."
The CCC was the key casino licensing body in Saipan until its dissolution in 2023 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The organization was involved in the de-licensing of the island's main casino operator, Imperial Pacific, in 2021, leading to its delisting from the stock exchange in June 2024.
The tax evasion dispute between the IRS and CCC continues to evolve, leaving questions about financial management and tax discipline on the island. A trial in U.S. District Court will be key to resolving this legal conflict and determining next steps in debt collection.
