IRS released $8.2 million tax lien against Terry Rozier after arrest in alleged gambling scheme
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The tax issue for NBA player Terry Rozier is apparently behind him. The Internal Revenue Service released the $8.2 million tax lien filed against him earlier this fall, according to ESPN’s Paula Lavigne and David Purdum. The release was filed Oct. 29, less than a week after Rozier was arrested and charged amid a massive gambling scandal within the NBA.

The IRS reportedly initially filed the $8,218,211 federal income tax lien in Broward County, Florida, in November 2023. A lien release must be filed by the IRS no later than 30 days after a debt has been paid.

According to Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, the lien itself was issued due to an e-filing error. Trusty told ESPN initially that Rozier owed only $9,000, and then later revised that amount to only $3,000 — far less than the $8.2 million the federal government said he owed.

"Once the accountant clarified the situation with the IRS, Terry was found to owe only $3,000 in unpaid taxes for 2021," Trusty told ESPN in October. "That amount has been taken care of and we fully expect the defunct lien to be withdrawn in the near future."

While Rozier should have received several past due notices or other warnings about the unpaid balance, whether it was for more than $8 million or just a few thousand, the issue has apparently been settled. The IRS declined to comment to ESPN through a spokesperson.

Rozier was one of more than 30 people arrested by the FBI last month as part of a massive alleged illegal gambling scheme. Rozier was the only active player in the NBA who was tied up in the scandal, though Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones were also arrested. Rozier’s case and Billups’ case were separate.

Rozier had been under investigation for his actions during a game in March 2023 when he allegedly left the contest after just nine minutes due to a foot injury — which caused his under bets to win. Rozier allegedly told one of his friends that he would pull himself from the game early, and that friend then allegedly sold that information to bettors for about $100,000.

Rozier was still a member of the Charlotte Hornets at the time. The 11-year veteran is on leave due to the charges against him. Rozier, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the No. 16 overall pick in 2015 out of Louisville, has made more than $60 million in on-court earnings throughout his career.

Rozier is due in court Dec. 8 in New York.



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