Over the course of his hit television series, Tony Soprano came up against some rough characters. More than once when someone became a threat to his operation, Tony had him whacked.
But now the real-life friends and family of the actor who played him — James Gandolfini — have found his generosity has put them up against an even more ruthless and unforgiving foe: the IRS.
Gandolfini died of a heart attack in Rome last month, leaving behind an estate worth nearly $70 million. Plainly he was generous, leaving money to his sisters, his child by a first marriage, his second wife and their newborn child and other relatives and friends. For that they will pay dearly, because of an estate tax that gives the IRS dibs on as much as $30 million.
Some say this is Gandolfini’s fault, because he didn’t take advantage of good estate planning to help him get around the tax. To our way of thinking, this only speaks to the unfairness and complexity of this tax. Why does Uncle Sam have any right to money you’ve worked hard for, paid taxes on already and wish to pass on to your loved ones? And why should you have to hire a fleet of lawyers to ensure your money goes to your loved ones and not the federal government?
As leader of a crime family, the gangster played by Gandolfini may have created a number of widows and orphans. But say this for Tony Soprano: Unlike the IRS, he didn’t target them.