Carlos Mencia Charged With Failing to File California Tax Returns

Prosecutors allege six years of missing personal and corporate returns. The charges concern willful nonfiling with intent to evade tax.

By: John Napoletano

Published: June 18, 2026 Updated: June 22, 2026

Comedian Carlos Mencia was charged June 18 with 12 felony counts alleging that he failed to file California personal and corporate income tax returns with intent to evade tax. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said the allegations cover tax years 2019 through 2024.

Mencia, known for the Comedy Central series Mind of Mencia, is accused of filing failures involving both his own income and his company. The charges are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Update, June 22, 2026: Mencia pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, the Associated Press reported. The plea contests the charges and is not a finding on their merits.

Personal and Corporate Returns Are at Issue

Prosecutors allege that Mencia, whose legal name is Ned Arnel Holness, failed to report approximately $8.7 million in combined personal and corporate income. They put the unpaid California taxes at more than $300,000. The larger figure is alleged unreported income, not the tax bill.

The case includes six counts involving personal returns and six involving corporate returns for Nedlos Entertainment, Inc. According to the district attorney's announcement, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) sent 78 demand notices about missing returns during the period.

Why Intent Matters in a Tax Prosecution

California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 19706 addresses willful failure to file a required return with intent to evade tax. The alleged intent is central to this case. A missed deadline or an unpaid balance, by itself, does not establish all the elements of that offense.

That distinction matters for readers worried about their own overdue returns. Ordinary filing and payment problems can bring penalties, interest, and collection action. A criminal allegation of deliberate tax evasion requires a separate assessment of the facts and the applicable law.

File Even If You Cannot Pay in Full

The California Franchise Tax Board's guidance for people with missing returns is direct: file even if you cannot afford the tax bill. The department says taxpayers who have missed one or more years should file as soon as possible, using the forms for the applicable years.

Filing the return and resolving the balance are related but separate steps. The FTB may offer eligible taxpayers a payment plan or other assistance. Interest and applicable penalties can continue to accrue, so arranging payments does not automatically erase those charges.

For someone catching up, the practical starting points are:

• Identify which returns are missing and gather the income records for each year.
• Use the correct year's forms and instructions rather than a current-year form for an older obligation.
• Respond to agency notices and ask about filing requirements or payment assistance when needed.

The FTB explains the available next steps on its guidance page for taxpayers who did not file. Our California Form 540 and instructions page links to available individual returns. Corporate filing requirements and forms are separate.

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