Terry Rozier Faces $8.2 Million Unpaid Tax Claim by IRS in 2023

In November 2023, the IRS filed a substantial tax lien against NBA player Terry Rozier, amounting to $8.2 million. This legal action, recorded on November 1, highlights significant financial complications surrounding the Miami Heat guard. The case arrived amid serious allegations against Rozier involving sports betting controversies.

Terry Rozier’s Tax Situation in 2023

The tax lien, first confirmed by ESPN and reported by The Athletic, claims Rozier owes the IRS the sum due to unpaid taxes. However, Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, asserts that this claim is overstated. According to Trusty, Rozier only owed $9,000 from 2021, a sum that has already been settled.

Background of the Tax Claim

Alongside the IRS lien, other financial issues have surfaced. In August 2022, a construction company filed a lien against Rozier for over $270,000. Rozier resolved nearly all of this debt by paying off $250,000 in July 2023, leaving a remaining balance of $20,000.

Allegations of Game Manipulation

These financial woes coincide with Rozier’s current legal troubles. He is one of over 30 individuals charged in New York related to an investigation into game manipulation for gambling purposes. Prosecutors allege that Rozier intentionally removed himself from a game in March 2023 to influence a prop bet won by a co-conspirator.

Connections to a Broader Investigation

This investigation has already led to serious consequences for other NBA personalities. Notably, former Raptors player Jontay Porter received a lifetime ban from the NBA after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This ongoing probe has cast a shadow over multiple members of the basketball community.

• Charged Individuals:
  • Terry Rozier – Miami Heat guard
  • Chauncey Billups – Portland Trail Blazers head coach
  • Damon Jones – Former NBA player
• Financial Details:
  • $8.2 million – Total IRS tax lien against Rozier
  • $9,000 – Amount Rozier reportedly owed in taxes
  • $270,000 – Lien filed by a construction company

Rozier’s current circumstances include being placed on immediate leave by the Miami Heat following his arrest last week. He is in the final year of a significant contract worth $96.2 million and has earned over $160 million throughout his NBA career.

As the investigation continues, the implications for Rozier and other implicated figures are significant. The seriousness of the allegations raises concerns about integrity within professional sports and the impacts of gambling.