Sharpton-Led Nonprofit Tied Up in Tax Troubles

The Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network failed for years to pay federal payroll taxes on its employees, The New York Times writes in an article detailing the tax and financial problems that have accompanied the civil rights activist’s rise to national political prominence.

Mr. Sharpton, who has close relationships with President Obama and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, has more than $4.5-million in current federal and state tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses. The nonprofit network has paid Mr. Sharpton a sizable salary and picked up some costs of his 2004 presidential campaign despite the payroll-tax liability and and repeated missed payments to landlords, hotels, and travel agencies, according to the Times.

The activist’s growing influence and visibility has coincided with a sharp increase in the National Action Network’s fundraising, which totaled more than $4-million in 2011 and 2012, much of it apparently from corporate sponsors. Mr. Sharpton said the rising donor support is helping the nonprofit pay down its debts, adding, “You can say I’m not a great administrator. You can’t say that I’m not committed.”