A major tax avoidance lawsuit brought against former MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor has suffered a big blow. As Judge Yvonne Williams dismisses part of the case as false claims.
In April 2021, disclosures by whistle-blowers alleged that Saylor was avoiding tax in the District of Columbia (D.C) by pretending to be resident in Florida.
Former D.C Attorney General Karl A. Racine brought the case against Saylor based on these allegations. Racine asserted that Saylor failed to pay city income taxes between 2005 and 2021, while living a playboy lifestyle in the city.
DC has a relatively new law called the False Claims Act which allows citizens to file lawsuits against alleged tax dodgers. Uniquely, this allows whistle-blowers to keep a portion of any proceeds recovered.
The now partially-dismissed $150m lawsuit could have seen the whistle-blower pocket as much as $25m from the case.
In the whistle-blowers disclosures it's alleged that Saylor bought up three prestigious Georgetown penthouses. Which were then combined into a massive 7,000sq ft luxury apartment.
While claiming to have his personal home in Florida, it is alleged that Saylor resided almost full-time at the address. This is evidenced by the near nightly parties he threw on the multiple yachts he keeps in the city.
It is rumoured that Saylor would boast that D.C residents were fools for not maintaining a tax base in Florida, which has 0% income tax.
The now famous Bitcoin Maxi denies the allegations categorically.
"[I] continue to respectfully disagree with the District's position on the remaining claims," said Saylor.
"[Florida is] the center of my personal and family life."
Indeed, with DC Superior Court Judge Yvonne Williams now dismissing more than half the case against
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