Country music star Willie Nelson got into tax trouble after the IRS found that the tax shelters his accountants set up were not valid. Left with a $16.7 million tax bill (negotiated down to $6 million), Nelson’s property was seized and sold at auction. But most of it was purchased by friends and supporters who immediately returned it to him. To pay off the balance, Nelson released the album “The IRS Tapes: Who Will Buy My Memories?” and did an ad spot for Taco Bell. This tactic certainly cannot be used by everyone owing money to the IRS, but it worked for Nelson; his debt was paid off by 1993. (www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/flashback-willie-nelson-settles-irs-tax-debt-196254/)
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