Former Tiësto lawyer who illegally hid US$28 million in tax argues Dutch DJ should pay it back

Tiësto's former attorney will face court this week over US$28 million in tax concealed from the IRS using illegal offshore accounts on behalf of the Dutch DJ — with his defence team reportedly planning to argue that his client should pay the sum back.

According to Business Insider, Frank Butselaar used a series of illegal off-shore accounts to conceal over US$100 million in US taxes on behalf of his celebrity clientele which included Tiësto and Afrojack.

Butselaar is serving the final six months of his 30-month sentence for tax fraud, having pleaded guilty to the offence in November 2024. However, the IRS is now seeking the return of US$28 million hidden on behalf of Tiësto.

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Prosecutors have not sought charges against Tiësto, AKA Tijs Michiel Verwest, on the basis that the Dutch DJ was not aware of his lawyers activities, according to Business Insider, court documents indicate that the US District Attorney "capped" the amount Tiësto was required to pay back to the IRS at US$9,467,085 — which Verwest has paid "voluntarily."

However, as prosecutors have called Butselaar back to court to pay the remaining US$19,250,845, his defence attorneys are reportedly planning to argue that he cannot afford to sum — and instead, the amount should be paid back by Tiësto.

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In a court filing from March 3, prosecutors had agreed to lower the sum to US$15.5 million as long as the funds are paid quickly, and without appeal.

In November, Butselaar admitted to concealing US$70 million in earnings from the IRS on behalf of Afrojack using a similar network of off-shore accounts — together with Tiësto's tax bill and his other celebrity clients, prosecutors claim Butselaar cost the US government over US$25 million.

In a court filing last week, prosecutors wrote: "Butselaar's efforts to escape his restitution obligations are unpersuasive, unsupported by law, and contrary to the plea agreement that both he and his lawyers signed."

The case will now be put before a New York District Attorney judge on Thursday (March 13).

[Via: Business Insider]

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter