Democrat Political Candidate Owes IRS $86,000

KJAS Radio ^ | January 23, 2002 | Mike Lout

[lonestar]

Political Candidate Ratcliff Owes IRS

by MIKE LOUT - Michael Stewart Ratcliff, one of the two candidates running for District Attorney in Jasper County, is back in the news.

It was discovered last week that records within the Jasper County Courthouse indicate that Ratcliff owes just over $86,000 in back taxes to the IRS. In fact, he has owed the money for several years but has continued to receive extensions from the IRS. Most of the taxes stem from a time in 1990 when he failed to pay his taxes at the end of the year.

Last week, it was reported that Ratcliff owed over $6,000.00 in local taxes mainly as a result of a parcel of land he says he obtained in payment for legal services. Even though Ratcliff had made arrangements to pay the taxes out over a period of time, he opted to pay them off after the taxes became an issue in the local media instead.

"Now, I could not have ran for this race, I could have let the world go by. I could have set in my office and handle my little cases, but I wanted to make a difference to Jasper County. I knew in doing so my past was going to be opened up," said political candidate Ratcliff.

Ratcliff admits he still owes taxes to the Federal Government but said Wednesday that he does not think it should be an issue in the race as he and local attorney Ted Walker continue to vie for the seat now held by District Attorney Guy James Gray.

"I don't want to run a dirty campaign. I want to talk about the issues. The issues are who can be the best prosecuting attorney for Jasper County, handle the cases, tend to the business for the people and prosecute the cases that need to be moved for Jasper County. That's why I'm here and I know that I am qualified for that," stated Ratcliff.

Last week, KJAS Radio reported that the even though all of Walker's taxes were apparently paid, the Appraisal District did not have any record of his office in Jasper. Later in the week David Luther, the head appraiser for the Appraisal district, said that Walker had rendered taxes on the personal property within that office.

[lonestar]

This is the candidate that the Democrat "machine" is supporting. That figures!

[ken5050]

David Dinkins...when he was running for Mayor...it was revealed in the NY POst that while he had served two terms as City Clerk....he hadn't paid his taxes for 4-5 years..didn't make a difference....he still won..

[Bigg Red]

Gee, I never heard of the guy. How did I know it was a 'Rat?

[lonestar]

How did you know that "Rat" is his nickname? (really!)

[gunnedah]

This shouldnt surprise anyone. Congress is loaded with these type crooks.

[snakebitevoter]

"It was discovered last week that records within the Jasper County Courthouse indicate that Ratcliff owes just over $86,000 in back taxes to the IRS. In fact, he has owed the money for several years but has continued to receive extensions from the IRS. Most of the taxes stem from a time in 1990 when he failed to pay his taxes at the end of the year."

Not bad. The bugger's still beating the system. Maybe he should raise his sights and run for the Senate. I might support him.

[Henrietta]

Ratcliff owes just over $86,000 in back taxes to the IRS.

This attitude is far from atypical among District Attorneys. There are two sets of rules: one for cops and DA's, and another for the peons against whom they trump up charges and harass.

[lonestar]

There are two sets of rules: one for (fill in the blank) and another for (fill in the blank).

I was born under the "another for" sign.

[mombonn]

"Now, I could not have ran for this race, . . . I could have set in my office and handle my little cases, . . .

Obviously a product of the public skool systim.

Ratcliff admits he still owes taxes to the Federal Government but said Wednesday that he does not think it should be an issue . . .

I think it speaks to the matter of character, Mr. Ratcliff. Oh, wait, that doesn't matter - you're a democrat.

[Dave S]

Whats your beef, he filed his returns. He has a payment plan with the IRS that allows him to pay the taxes off over time (very common). The IRS doesnt seem to be upset and if he was screwing them, they would be.

You dont know how this tax lien was created. Perhaps he was forced to pay capital gains on property that he was selling as part of a divorce settlement or whatever. Or he could be like the people in the high tech industry that got paid in stock options. The value of these for tax purposes is based on the stock price when the shares were issued, not when they can be sold. With the high tech sell off there were many paper millionaires that found their shares were worthless but they owned hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes on money they had never received.

Before you attack someone for not being up to date on their taxes, why dont you atleast be responsible for writing checks for estimated tax payments of 20,000 per quarter. Remember this is on top of your withholding.

[lonestar]

You dont know how this tax lien was created.

Oh, yes, I do. You are the one who doesn't know what you're talking about.

[meenie]

This sounds like the candidate will fit right in with the crowd. The legislators have been running up the bill for years without paying anything on them.

[Dave S]

Oh, yes, I do. You are the one who doesn't know what you're talking about.

Since you claim to know so much, how about telling us exactly how this unpaid tax liability came about. Now Im expecting something a little more precise than he paid less than what the IRS required or fact he was Dem made it okay for him not to pay. Enlighten us oh so smart one and provide links.

[lonestar]

You have mail.