The estate of Aretha Franklin has paid off their debt to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
What does this mean for Aretha Franklin’s family? Her sons will finally reap the benefits from the musical legacy she left behind. Franklin passed away in August 2018 from pancreatic cancer and is survived by her four sons – Clarence, Edward, Teddy, and Kecalf.
The Detroit Press previously reported that her estate owed over $6.3 million dollars in unpaid income tax to the IRS. An attorney for the estate, David Bennett, said that at least $3 million dollars were paid back to the IRS in 2018. However the IRS stated, “no part of this debt has been paid and it is now due and payable to the United State Treasury at the Office of the Internal Revenue Service”.
For years, gaining access to Franklin’s assets has been an uphill battle for her family due to the IRS. The $8 million in unpaid taxes, interests and penalties accumulated from 2010 – 2017. Due to this, paying off the tax was crucial to avoid additional interest.
The remaining tax liability was paid off via a cashier’s check on June 17th. according to the new court petition filed by attorney Reginald Turner.