The Trump Organization is a trade name that embraces a number of privately held corporate and partnership entities whose beneficial owners include Donald Trump. According to court documents, from at least 2005 to June 2021, the Trump companies devised and operated a scheme to defraud federal, New York State, and New York City tax authorities by paying certain Trump Organization senior executives substantial portions of their compensation “through indirect and disguised means, with compensation that was unreported or misreported by the Trump Corporation or Trump Payroll Corporation the tax authorities.”
“This was a case about greed and cheating,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “For 15 years, the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation got away with a scheme that awarded high-level executives with lavish perks and compensation, while intentionally concealing the benefits from the taxing authorities to avoid paying taxes.”
Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, a prime beneficiary of the scheme, received approximately $1.76 million in unreported compensation, including the payment of rent, utilities, parking garage expenses, Mercedes Benz cars for himself and his wife, home furnishings, cash for personal holiday tips, and payment of his grandchildren’s private school tuition, according to court documents.
Additionally, Weisselberg concealed for years that he was a New York City resident who was required to pay New York City income taxes. As a result of the scheme, Weisselberg was able to evade approximately $556,385 in federal taxes, approximately $106,568 in state taxes, and approximately $238,159 in New York City taxes. Additionally, he falsely claimed and received approximately $94,902 in federal tax refunds and approximately $38,222 in state tax refunds, to which he was not entitled.
Weisselberg previously pleaded guilty to 15 criminal charges and testified at trial implicating both the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2023. 
Jaclyn Jaeger is a contributing editor at Compliance Chief 360° and a freelance business writer based in Manchester, New Hampshire.