I wasn’t kidding when I suggested that Richard Hatch would probably be shopping around a new reality TV show deal now that he’s out of prison. I just didn’t think it would happen so fast.
NPR is reporting that the former Survivor winner has hopes of showcasing his relationship with the children conceived from his sperm donations as part of a new TV show.
Pause. Yes. There are just so many jokes. And my mom could be reading. So moving on to the tax part…
Hatch was convicted of charges related to tax evasion and tax fraud in 2006. He was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and served just over three years before his release in 2009. Hatch was to spend additional time on supervised release but failed to comply with the judge’s orders to file and pay his tax obligations and went back to jail in 2011.
Now out (again), Hatch still claims that he’s innocent, saying that he has been, “subjected to something that can only be described as institutionalized bullying.” He also says that any taxes which might be due should be paid to the government in Malaysia since that was where the series was filmed. Hatch and his tax advisors apparently don’t grasp the whole “worldwide income” piece of the U.S. tax system. Even though the game was played in Malaysia, the winnings were paid to a U.S. person (Hatch) by a U.S. company (CBS) in the U.S. for a U.S. TV show (Survivor). And even if Malaysia felt that they deserved a bite of the apple, that might result in a foreign tax credit if Hatch actually paid those taxes (he hasn’t) but it doesn’t exempt him from reporting and paying tax in the U.S. But it’s not even a serious argument, is it? That certainly wasn’t his position in 2000… or 2001… or 2006. But it makes for interesting press now, I guess.
Hatch also claims that CBS is responsible for paying his taxes. Hatch claimed, as part of his appeal, that he confronted Survivor producers about alleged cheating on the show and they promised to pay his taxes if he kept quiet. CBS, of course, says that didn’t happen.
The “it’s Malaysia’s money” and “CBS should pay my taxes” arguments still don’t explain why Hatch didn’t report over $300,000 in earnings as co-host of a Boston radio show and almost $30,000 from rental properties. I’m guessing there’s a fun explanation for those omissions, too.
Despite Hatch’s views on the matter, his supervised release remains in effect and he must still pay the IRS for his tax obligations which, together with interest and penalty, now stands at $1.7 million. I’m guessing Hatch figures a new show is his ticket to paying those bills.
If that sperm donor show doesn’t work out, Hatch will likely try his hand at another show. He has two stints on Survivor and one on Celebrity Apprentice under his, uh, belt (yes, that’s a not so veiled reference to his fondness for nudity). He told the press that he wants to compete on The Amazing Race.
My vote for The Amazing Race dream team? Richard Hatch and Kate Gosselin. C’mon Phil Keoghan, make it happen.
