Matthew Perry’s estate was hit with a five-figure bill by Uncle Sam over unpaid taxes that the late actor owed, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
On Thursday, November 6, the State of California Franchise Tax Board filed a creditor’s claim demanding $67,492.91.
The bill said Perry had a tax bill of $223,988 for the year 2022. The agency said the Friends alum was hit with penalties of $8,596 but made payments of $173,423, leaving an unpaid balance of $67,468.
The State of California Franchise Tax Board claimed Perry also owed $24.60 on his 2023 bill.
The claim comes months after the executor of Perry’s estate, Lisa Ferguson, told the court she had wrapped up handling all financial matters.
In October 2024, Ferguson filed a final accounting report stating Perry left behind assets totaling $1,1,596,914.47. (The majority of Perry’s assets were held in a trust named the Alvy Singer Living Trust and were not listed in Ferguson’s report.)
Fergurson told the court she had not received any creditors’ claims or demands for payment. She did note that any debt owed was handled by her outside of court.
“The estate is solvent,” Ferguson wrote.
In regard to federal taxes, Ferguson’s lawyer noted, “An extension for filing the federal estate tax return has been timely filed and [Ferguson] has made sufficient payments for the estate taxes estimated to be due.” Her filing said she believed all taxes had been paid in full.
“[Ferguson] will pay any additional estate taxes determined to be due, in her capacity as Trustee of the Alvy Singer Living Trust dated June 2, 1999, as amended.”
As Us previously reported, the beneficiaries of Perry’s estate are his father, John Perry, his mother, Suzanne Morrison, his ex-girlfriend, Rachel Dunn, half-sister; Emily Morrison, half-sister; Caitlin Morrison; half-sister Madeline Morrison; half-sister Maria Perry and Will Morrison.
In her April filing, Ferguson asked that the probate case be closed and she be awarded $28,000 to pay her legal bills associated with the case. The judge signed off on the request.
The estate was formed days after Matthew died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. The actor was found unresponsive in the backyard hot tub of his Los Angeles mansion.
The Medical Examiner ruled that the actor died from the “acute effects of ketamine.” The report on Matthew’s death noted that the ketamine caused him to suffer cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.
Law enforcement launched an investigation into how Matthew obtained the ketamine. It was discovered that the actor had bought ketamine through multiple sources, including a woman named Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors said called herself “The Ketamine Queen.”
In August 2024, officials announced charges for five individuals they believed played a role in Mathew’s death.
On top of Sangha, the feds arrested Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez, Matthew’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming.
Sangha pleaded guilty to five charges in September and is awaiting sentencing. Chavez agreed to a plea deal in June and is expected to plead guilty to some charges. Plasencia, Iwamasa and Fleming also entered guilty pleas.
As part of the investigation, Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife Brooke Mueller was questioned by officials. Mueller and Matthew reportedly met in rehab and were friendly with each other. Mueller was never accused of any wrongdoing and cooperated fully.
In October, Matthew’s Friends costar Jennifer Aniston said a reunion for the sitcom would be “impossible” without him. “It would be literally, physically impossible,” the actress stated in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar.
“It’s heartbreaking that he had so many demons,” Aniston, 56, said. “But boy, for someone who had that much inner turmoil, he sure got to laugh a lot, and that was everything to him.”
After his tragic passing, Aniston, along with the rest of the Friends cast, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, released a statement.
“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family. There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss,” they said. “In time, we will say more, as and when we are able. For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
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