Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., talks a lot about spending American taxpayer money — but apparently, she doesn’t like to pay her own taxes.
A warrant in New York has been issued to Ocasio-Cortez related to an unpaid tax bill, The Daily Caller reported Monday.
Specifically, the State of New York issued a warrant against the liberal lawmaker’s failed children’s publishing company owned by Ocasio-Cortez, the Brook Avenue Press.
Authorities say her company has accrued a debt of approximately $1,600 in unpaid taxes since it’s founding in 2012.
If the issue remains unsolved, it could allow New York tax officers to seize Ocasio-Cortez’ property or garnish her congressional paycheck.
According to New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance:
A filed tax warrant creates a lien against your real and personal property, and may:
- allow us to seize and sell your real and personal property,
- allow us to garnish your wages or other income,
- affect your ability to buy or sell property, or
- affect your ability to obtain credit.
This news has surprised many political experts, but it’s no shocker to Ocasio-Cortez or her office. The warrant was first issued in 2017.
The New York Post found the outstanding tax warrant in March, and Ocasio-Cortez’ office was made aware of the issue. Her spokesman promised to pay the tax bill “immediately.”
Ocasio-Cortez currently makes $174,000 annually as a congresswoman, meaning her debt is less than 1 percent of her total income.
As of late September, Ocasio-Cortez still hasn’t paid the State of New York her overdue tax bill.
“The Bronx County Clerk confirmed in a phone call with The Daily Caller News Foundation Monday that the Brook Avenue Press tax warrant remains open and that a satisfaction of judgment has yet to be filed in the matter.”
A tax attorney told The New York Post that Ocasio-Cortez and other Brook Avenue Press owners would have received “numerous letters from the state” since 2012 about their unpaid taxes, but probably just chose to ignore them.
New York authorities automatically dissolved the company in Oct. 2016 because of these unpaid taxes.
A tax warrant is issued as a “last-ditch effort” by the state to recover any unpaid money.
This isn’t the only money trouble Ocasio-Cortez has found herself in recently.
Earlier this month during a House committee meeting, Ocasio-Cortez revealed to her fellow lawmakers the stunning amount of debt she was under — and said the government was obligated to help her repay it.