Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has made raising taxes on wealthy Americans a cornerstone of her political platform.
But despite making nearly $200,000 annually in salary, a new report shows that Ocasio-Cortez refuses to pay her own tax debts.
For over seven years, Ocasio-Cortez has owed thousands of dollars in taxes from a failed business venture. The State of New York dissolved her failed business’ LLC in 2016.
In 2017, the state put out a tax lien on the unpaid debt — effectively a legal warrant to seize the company’s property if needed and compel Ocasio-Cortez to pay.
In December 2019, in the face of growing controversy over the still-unpaid debt, her staff vowed the Democratic representative would pay what she owed “immediately.”
According to The New York Post, the Democratic socialist lawmaker still hasn’t paid a dime owed. The tax debt is from her failed publishing company for children’s books, Brook Avenue Press.
In fact, now Ocasio-Cortez is refusing to pay anything at all. She’s contested the tax warrant as unfair. And her lawyers now claim that she’s not legally required to pay the $2,088.78 the State of New York says is owed.
“The congresswoman is still in the process of contesting the tax warrant,” a spokeswoman for AOC told The Post. “The business has been closed for several years now, and so we believe that the state Tax Department has continued to collect the franchise tax in error.”
The spokeswoman added that expecting to resolve the issue quickly — despite it being seven-years-old — is an unrealistic expectation for the congresswoman.
“As anyone who’s tried to contest a tax bill in error knows, it takes time,” she said.
Ocasio-Cortez’ critics pounced on the news that she’s refusing to pay her tax debts despite advocating for a 70 percent income tax on wealthy Americans.
“She just thinks she’s better than everyone else,” a spokesman for AOC’s chief Democratic primary rival said. “Clearly, she’s worse.”
READ MORE: Ocasio-Cortez tax warrant issued in New York
The Horn editorial team