Oops!
It’s going to be really tough to argue that Manafort was the innocent victim of Gates-the-Grifter with evidence like this.
He should have chosen a higher withholding percentage. 
I wish I had a half mil tax bill. Oh and a way to pay it.
"You too can be a millionaire and not pay taxes!
“'First, get a million dollars. Then …”
h/t Steve Martin
WOMP WOMP
Oh god, the rich and famous and corrupt, maybe sometimes they are just like the rest of us 
Oh oh oh Mr. Kotter!! I’m a board member of a non-profit that allows tax deductions for donations…over here, over here!
But noooooooooo.
Josh was right. This is like a film noir plot. The part where it ends in treason rather than murder/ insurance fraud is a bit of a departure, granted.
A thing possibly not known to mere plebes and mortals who file their taxes on April 15 is that rich people always file for multiple extensions, never file their returns before October, but have to send a check with that April extension application if they owe.
ETA: oooooohhhh, last page. Also had to “resume” making estimated quarterly payments in 2015 of 350k per quarter based on past income he was no longer making. Ouchie. And trust me, there are few better ways to simultaneously put your nuts in a vise and open up for an invasive IRS proctological exam than to get crosswise with quarterly estimated income tax payments.
Channeling his inner Wesley Snipes isn’t going to go so well.
First I have to laugh hilariously at this…then…
“We need to discuss options. This is a disaster,” Manafort continued in the email. “When am I supposed to write this check?”
Dear, Mr. Manafort, If you are unable to pay the tax on your enormous income from last year, the IRS will gladly work out a payment plan with you.
Down, Horschack.
@jackster: If you were a responsible citizen and had a $0.5M tax bill, then you’d have a way to pay it
Obamacare (0.8%)
Trololol, I am tickled pink to see that the ACA increased Manafort’s tax bill.
Thanks, Obama!
Manafort: “WTF?”
Gates: “Federal tax hike - There is an overall increase in your effective tax rate . . . due to an increase in medicare tax (2.9%) and Obamacare (0.8%). Last year your tax rate was 36%. This year it will be 39.7%”
Is this an attempt by the defense to humanize Manfort?
Nothing some Staples and OfficeMax receipts can’t cut into!
How Trumpian!
So is he going to claim that he told Gates to reduce his liability but had no idea that Gates was going to do anything illegal? But also, if you’re a real businessperson you have to be aware that booking more revenue means paying more taxes. The commingling of business and personal would be, if not a red flag, at least a sign that Manafort was playing fast and loose.
Other really serious issue is that this is dated April 17. As @ncsteve points out, the deadline for sending the check was done. At best, he could have sent a check for whatever he paid the previous year and then expected a substantial underpayment penalty with the filing. But he apparently wasn’t thinking that far ahead.
“Manafort Freaks Out When He Learns Size Of His 2014 Tax Bill.”
If you think that’s a freakout, just wait until he sees what the judge hands down during the sentencing phase.
I know, right? When I win the lotto, they take it before I see a cent.