Brittany Cartwright is pushing back after being hit with a massive tax claim in California.
The Valley star is reportedly working to clear up what her team says is an old filing issue after California tax authorities listed her as owing nearly half a million dollars in unpaid taxes.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, Brittany’s name appears on the California Franchise Tax Board’s semiannual “Top 500 Delinquencies” list, which tracks some of the state’s largest outstanding personal income tax debts over $100,000.
The listing claims Cartwright allegedly owes $463,632.12.
However, Cartwright is saying the alleged debt is not what it seems.
Brittany’s team says the issue is connected to an old problem with a previous tax filing rather than a current unpaid tax bill.
TMZ obtained a letter from Brittany’s CPA, Christopher Fank, who says he has handled Brittany’s taxes for the past five years and can confirm that she has paid all taxes owed during that time.
The CPA claims the issue stems from Brittany’s 2019 taxes, which allegedly mistakenly reported “phantom income and tax” under her name.
Fank says he is now working directly with the California Franchise Tax Board to correct the matter. He also claims the agency has agreed to place a hold on the account while Brittany submits proof that she does not owe the disputed amount.
The tax drama comes as Brittany continues to navigate a very public new chapter of her life on Bravo’s The Valley. Fans have watched Cartwright deal with major personal changes, including her split from Jax Taylor and the fallout surrounding their relationship.
While the tax listing may sound alarming at first, Brittany’s side is making it clear they believe this is a filing error that they are actively trying to fix.
For now, Brittany appears focused on clearing her name and proving that the nearly $500,000 debt claim is tied to what her CPA says was a mistake from years ago.
And if Brittany’s team is correct, this massive tax bill may end up being less of a financial scandal and more of a paperwork nightmare.