The settlement marks the largest Bitcoin income tax recovery in DC history. The Office of the Attorney General’s lawsuit — the first brought under updates to the city’s False Claims Act — alleges that Saylor illegally dodged $25 million in District taxes by falsely claiming residency in lower-tax Florida or Virginia.
Saylor’s Legal Battle
Michael Saylor, a billionaire investor who made headlines for his large investments in Bitcoin, will pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit that alleges he defrauded Washington DC out of $25 million in income taxes. The settlement was reported by the New York Times on June 3, and it is the largest income tax fraud recovery in the district’s history. It was also the first case resolved under the district’s modified False Claims Act, which encourages whistleblowers to expose tax cheating.
The lawsuit alleged that Saylor used MicroStrategy employees to falsify or omit address information on his W-2 forms from 2005 through 2020. The company allegedly helped him claim residency in Florida and Virginia, states that have lower income tax rates than the District of Columbia. In reality, he lived in a luxury penthouse overlooking the Georgetown waterfront and docked multiple yachts on the Potomac River.
As a result of the suit, Saylor resigned as CEO of MicroStrategy in August 2022, though he retained his roles as executive chairman and chairman of the board. The company continued to promote itself as a Bitcoin-friendly firm, and Saylor frequently promoted his personal investments in cryptocurrency on social media.
MicroStrategy’s Settlement
American software company MicroStrategy and its pro-Bitcoin founder Michael Saylor have settled a DC tax lawsuit against them for $40 million. This is the largest income tax fraud recovery in the city’s history, according to DC’s attorney general, Brian Schwalb. The settlement was reached under the district’s modified False Claims Act, which incentivizes whistleblowers who reveal tax cheating.
The lawsuit against Saylor was filed in August 2022 and accused him of defrauding the city of $25 million in income taxes over a decade-long period. It claimed he evaded taxes by falsely claiming that he lived in Florida or Virginia, where income tax rates are lower than in Washington.
From 2006 to 2008, Saylor spent millions buying three luxury condos in the District of Columbia and combining them into a single residence that he called the Trigate. According to the complaint, he lived aboard one of his yachts and at various other locations while undergoing the renovations on this project. The lawsuit cited several social media posts from Saylor to support its claims.
The settlement between Saylor and the district includes fines for each year he failed to pay taxes, plus interest. The city is also obtaining MicroStrategy’s assistance in investigating future cases of tax fraud, a move that the company says is necessary to protect its reputation and ensure compliance with the law.
Saylor’s Net Worth
Saylor’s net worth is heavily influenced by his investments in the cryptocurrency market. He has personal holdings in the cryptocurrency that exceed 121,044 BTC. His company, MicroStrategy, has also made headlines for its massive investment in Bitcoin over the past few years. As the CEO and co-founder of the business intelligence firm, Saylor is an influential voice in the tech sector.
According to the DC attorney general’s office, Saylor has avoided paying $25 million in personal income taxes by claiming false residency in Florida and Virginia. The settlement is the largest income tax recovery in the city’s history.
The lawsuit against Saylor is the first brought under a revamped version of a District law that encourages whistleblowers to report suspected tax fraud. The law, which was signed in 2022 by Mayor Bowser, allows the city to recover money that taxpayers are owed.
Saylor, who was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, spent his childhood moving around the country due to his father’s Air Force career. He excelled in school and graduated as the valedictorian from his high school. He was then accepted to MIT, where he studied aeronautics and astronautics. After graduating, Saylor founded the company that would become MicroStrategy. The company began as a software consulting and data analytics firm before going public in 1998. In 2020, the company shifted its focus to the cryptocurrency market.
Saylor’s Future
The settlement of the city’s lawsuit against MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor is a significant milestone. The DC attorney general’s office alleged that the tech billionaire falsified tax documents and dodged local income taxes for a decade. It was the largest income tax recovery in the city’s history, a record that should send a message to other residents who attempt to skirt their taxes.
The case against Saylor was the first brought using a change in law that was passed in 2021. The change allowed whistleblowers to file claims against public entities based on allegations of false claims and receive a large portion of any money recovered.
According to the lawsuit, Saylor evaded more than $25 million in DC income taxes by claiming that he lived in Virginia or Florida. Whistleblowers cited evidence including the purchase and renovation of luxury properties in Georgetown, social media posts indicating residency in the district, and the provision of a security detail and drivers for Saylor.
In addition to paying a $40 million fine, the settlement will also require Saylor and his company to provide the city with detailed information on the company’s operations, ensuring that future tax fraud is prevented. The information will also help the city identify other possible tax violations by private citizens and companies. The DC attorney general’s office will use this data to pursue similar cases in the future.
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