Winter Stone, the renowned tattoo artist who has inked A-list celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Matt Damon, Miley Cyrus, and Jessica Alba, pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns and evading over $641,000 in federal income taxes. The 43-year-old, whose real name is Daniel Joseph Winter, appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday to face charges related to his tax filings, which prosecutors say misrepresented his income and concealed earnings from the IRS.
Winter, known for his signature single-needle tattoos, admitted to one count of subscribing to a false tax return. His clientele, often high-profile figures, typically paid in cash for his services, income he failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Prosecutors claim that Winter understated his income, leading to a tax liability of more than $641,000 between 2021 and 2023.
According to court records, Winter earned at least $1.7 million from his tattoo business during that period. However, his tax filings painted a different picture. In 2021, Winter reported a taxable income of negative $3,442, when his actual income was $501,710. In 2022, he reported just $1,105 in taxable income instead of $347,159. For 2023, Winter declared income of $14,852, despite earning $850,447. These discrepancies led to federal felony charges filed in January of this year.
Winter’s plea agreement revealed that he deliberately misled the IRS by failing to report substantial income from his tattoo work. The government alleges that he continued this practice even after his significant earnings from the tattoo industry, which includes work for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
In a bid to resolve the case and avoid jail time, Winter paid off the full amount owed to the IRS with a cashier’s check for $641,959 at the hearing. This payment effectively settles his tax debt and ensures that he will not face a prison sentence.
Federal records also show that Winter has filed for bankruptcy twice, in Nevada and Indiana, in 2012, adding further complexity to his financial history. Despite these issues, Winter’s reputation as one of the most sought-after tattoo artists in Hollywood remains intact, with clients like Jessica Alba, who recently shared a tattoo he did for her on Instagram after her split from husband Cash Allen.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of tax compliance for high-profile individuals, even those in creative industries like tattoo artistry. It also highlights the growing scrutiny of celebrities and public figures’ financial dealings, particularly as the IRS intensifies efforts to combat tax evasion in various sectors.
Related topics: