Wesley Snipes

About Wesley Snipes

Actor Wesley Snipes was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal tax returns in 2008. Snipes had been influenced by tax protestor arguments that the income tax was unconstitutional. He claimed he was a nonresident alien for tax purposes and filed for 12 million in refunds. The government charged Snipes with owing 7 million in back taxes. Snipes was acquitted of felony tax fraud and conspiracy but convicted of the misdemeanor failure to file charges. He was sentenced to three years in prison and began serving his sentence in 2010. The Snipes case demonstrated that even unsuccessful tax protestor arguments can lead to prison for failing to file returns.