Marc Anthony Owes New York $2.5 Million in Back Taxes

Singer Marc Anthony has agreed to pay about $2.5 million in back taxes, interest, and penalties to the State of New York due to his failure to file returns for five years, the Manhattan District Attorney announced Wednesday.

Anthony has not been charged, but his manager, accountant, and his three companies all pleaded guilty to tax crimes in a plea deal reached with the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Anthony must pay the $2.5 million by June 1.  

Anthony, 38, was not charged because an accountant prepared his tax returns and he thought they had been filed with taxes being paid.

A state Department of Taxation computer drew attention to Anthony when it kicked out his state return due to discrepancies, according to Peter Farrell, an assistant deputy commissioner of the department.

The New York born Anthony, who is married to singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, was not charge due to his reliance on his accountant to file his tax returns, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

Anthony, the biggest selling salsa artist of all time, released the albums "Libre," "Mended," and "Amar Sin Mentiras" between 2001 and 2004. He failed to pay taxes on $15.5 million in income, according to the District Attorney's office.

Lopez was not in any way a part of the investigation, Morgenthau said.

"He thought that he could rely on his manager and his accountant," Morgenthau said of Anthony.

Anthony's lawyer was not available for comment.

Anthony's manager and brother, Bigram Zayes, along with Phillip Sarna, Anthony's business manager and accountant for his three companies, also failed to pay his income taxes.

Zayes was the general manager of Anthony's from 2000 to 2003. Sarna was an accountant for Anthony who failed to file tax returns from 2003 to 2004 on $300,000 of taxable income.

Tax officials also found that the three companies ran by Anthony had either failed to file returns or failed to pay all their taxes due from 2001 through 2004.

Anthony's companies, which handle his tours, the publication of his music and lyrics, and his management, collect income which is then paid to Anthony.