Lessons From John McAfee’s Tax Evasion Indictment

Colorful tech figure and sometimes taunter of the IRS John David McAfee has been indicted for federal income tax evasion. Given his profile, particularly such antics as proclaiming that he isn’t filing tax returns but the IRS can come find him, it may not seem a surprise that McAfee is in some serious hot water. He has long been completely out of the antivirus company that bears his name, but he has still been in the news in numerous controversial ways over the last decade. Everyone has to file tax returns of course, even McAfee, and failing to file can be criminal. The indictment dates from June 15, 2020, but it was just unsealed following McAfee’s arrest in Spain where he is awaiting extradition to the U.S. This is an indictment, so the charges have yet to be proven. But it may be hard for McAfee to explain himself after he once colorfully admitted to not paying taxes in a video posted on Twitter. According to the indictment, McAfee earned millions from promoting cryptocurrencies, consulting, speaking, and selling the rights to his life story. From 2014 to 2018, the feds allege that McAfee failed to file tax returns despite receiving considerable income. How could he not file returns or report income?

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