Survivor Winner Richard Hatch: CBS Was To Pay Taxes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - “Survivor” Richard Hatch decided not to pay taxes on the $1 million he won on the TV show’s first season after discussions with producers, fellow contestants and his accountant, and, he testified Monday in his federal tax evasion trial, after receiving two letters from the IRS.

Hatch is accused of failing to pay taxes on the money he won on the show in 2000, as well as other income, and is charged with using money earmarked for a charity on himself. Testimony wrapped up Monday afternoon, and closing arguments were scheduled for Tuesday.

Hatch told jurors he missed the deadline for filing his 2000 tax return, and later received two letters from the Internal Revenue Service warning that the government had not received it. The letters listed several sources of income he received, but did not mention his grand prize from “Survivor.”

Hatch said he thought that meant someone else had paid the taxes on the prize.

But under questioning from Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Vilker, Hatch acknowledged that the IRS letters cautioned the list of income may not be comprehensive.

Hatch testified during the trial that he thought the producers of the show were going to pay the taxes on the prize, and said he called them several times to ask about tax issues but they did not return his calls.

(msnbc)