Aretha Franklin Reportedly Owes The IRS Up To $8 Million

Aretha Franklin appears to have left almost $8 million worth of tax debt following her death earlier this year. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the Queen of Soul owes over $6.3 million in back taxes to the IRS from the period of 2012 and 2018. She also owes an additional $1.5 million in penalties. But her estate is claiming that they have already paid at least $3 million in back taxes to the IRS since Franklin’s death in August from pancreatic cancer. Her estate is currently being audited by the IRS, which filed a claim earlier this month in a county probate court north of Detroit. “We have a tax attorney. All of her returns have been filed,” her attorney David Bennett told the Associated Press. “We have disputes with the IRS regarding what they claim was income. We claim its double-dipping income because they don’t understand how the business works.” Despite the tax issues, the world will continue to celebrate Franklin in an upcoming CBS special that will be an all-star tribute to her amazing life and legacy. The event, hosted by Tyler Perry, will tape on January 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, and includes appearances from Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle and many more.