Celebrities
Nick Carter’s brother Aaron Carter’s estate faced another financial setback as federal tax officials sought more than $461,000 in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. The claim added another complication to the late singer’s estate, which had already faced disputes over its finances and remaining assets.
Carter, who rose to fame as a child pop star in the late 1990s, died in November 2022 at just 34. Years later, questions surrounding his estate’s finances continued to complicate matters for his surviving family.
Federal tax officials are seeking more than $461K from Aaron Carter’s estate
According to documents obtained by TMZ and filed with the court on October 21, the Internal Revenue Service claimed Carter owed a total of $461,253.54. The alleged debt covered unpaid balances from 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, with interest and penalties adding to the amounts.
The smallest balance dated back to 2014 and totaled just $326.60. However, the figures grew substantially over the years. The 2021 balance alone reportedly reached $172,538.70, including interest and penalties. The filing sought to recover the outstanding amount, although it remained unclear how the estate could pay.
The latest IRS claim followed an earlier fight over Carter’s estate. His mother, Jane Schneck, tried to keep it operating earlier this year, but a judge ultimately ruled it insolvent and closed it. Carter’s former fiancée, Melanie Martin, received all non-cash assets.
Schneck had challenged the handling of the estate, arguing that its trustee undervalued Carter’s royalty income. She also alleged that Martin made “illegal withdrawals” totaling $24,530 from Carter’s accounts. Those allegations added to the financial disputes surrounding the estate.
Carter died in November 2022 after authorities found him in the bathtub at his Lancaster, California, home. His house sitter discovered him and contacted emergency services. Law enforcement investigated the scene, but authorities reported no evidence of foul play in the initial account.
The singer first found fame with his 1997 self-titled debut album at age nine. His follow-up, Aaron’s Party, sold three times as many copies as his first record, helping establish him as a teen pop sensation. He later appeared on Dancing With the Stars, acted on Broadway in Seussical and pursued rap.
Carter was the younger brother of Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter and left behind his son, Prince.