I guess it's time for another update. The US seems to be taking more interest in Fischer than I had imagined, if for reasons other than playing in Yugoslavia in 1992. Mainichi mentions the tax evasion case being prepared against Fischer. (More and more on Fischer's visitors being denied access to him.)
"There are five matters being looked at in that case," the official, who did not give her name, told the Mainichi Daily News. The official refused to divulge details of the case, nor would she say when hearings would begin. She said she could not disclose the information because "it concerns a person's privacy.""
As usual, Fischer's lawyers make many grandiose statements about human rights and persecution without getting into whether or not Fischer has broken the law. What seems clear is that his epic detention is way out of line. It makes you want to cry habeas corpus, but it seems to be the Fischer side delaying things because they aren't getting the result they want.
Journalist Rene Chun, who is writing a Fischer biography, has an interesting new article with more info and background at ChessCafe.com. (Is it only the editor in me or is the orthography rather bad? "irregardless", "pouring over", "looses money" ... Copy editors earn their money!)
The expression "death and taxes" has been around a long time with good reason. During my ten years living abroad I spent a lot of time dealing with tax issues and filing 2555 forms. If you're holding a US passport the government wants its cut of whatever you make wherever you are. (Thank goodness for the Argentine cash economy!) As for Fischer, I'm still hoping for a quiet retirement in Iceland.
"Is it only the editor in me or is the orthography rather bad?"
Nope, not just you.
When I shop for guitars the general advice I go by is don't buy guitars that have small flaws like rough edged frets, or glue lines, regardless of the brand name. If the maker was sloppy in the details you can see, what kind of flaws are in the details you can't see? Seems to hold true for many things including journalism.
We all know, who really does not respect laws in the modern world.
Actually, it's Bosnitch who is making those grandiose statements, whereas Fischer's lawyer, Masako Suzuki, is much more responsible and professional in what she says. See, for example this interview:
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2169
Bosnitch seems to have an agenda of his own, related to the war in Yugoslavia and Kossovo.
"Is it only the editor in me or is the orthography rather bad?"
Not only the examples Mig quoted, but also:
"en absentia" (Latin for 'in' is 'in)
"..a Texas beauty queens..."
The quality of the teaching of English grammar in American schools is deplorable. I am in charge of a team of technical editors and am frequently surprised by what I was not taught. It's sad that I have to work diligently to upgrade my skills at this point in life.
Having said that, anyone who thinks that writing is not difficult should try it themselves. That is why we need editors...
As for Fischer, he is irrelevant except to prove GM Patrick Wolff's axiom that one doesn't have to be crazy to play chess well, but it helps.
"Quiet retirement in Iceland"? If Fischer should manage to get to Iceland, I'll give it 2 years at most before the Icelanders will be begging for him to get his ass off their peaceful island.
Hello Johan,
I am in agreement with you. There is a thread down in "Hall of Flame" entitled "Fischer behind bars--part II". I am trying to make the same point there.
Ed Yetman,III
YetmanBrothers.com
That's also what I'm afraid of (I mentioned these fears in some of the earlier Ice Fisching pieces), just not what I'm hoping for. Fischer would also end up being the center of attention of any chess event on Iceland were he there, even if he stays out of sight. Imagine Kasparov playing an event there with Fischer on the island. Everyone would be going crazy and Kasparov wouldn't be asked about anything other than Fischer. I doubt he'd even go to Iceland. He's been asked enough dumb Fischer questions to last a lifetime already.
In time, isn't it bad to advocate that the US govmt should leave Fischer alone? If it did so, what message would it give to all tax evaders - that they should be forgiven?
The best solution is for Fischer to pay his dues to the IRS, and then for the US govmt to let him retire wherever he pleases (and yeah, accept his resignation of US citizenship).
I just feel sorry for the old guy.
I'd personally save my sympathy on an anonymous starving person instead of someone with a few million dollars in the bank who hasn't paid taxes since 1976.
Person's "deserving" of sympathy hardly has to do with his financial situation, imho.
Murali,
Fischer paid his taxes for his 1972 win. In all probability he would have paid taxes for his 1992 win had he not been indicted by the Grand Jury.
I'll leave to lawyers whether Fischer evaded taxes by criminal intent or evaded taxes by force majeure of the indictment, though his bragging of not paying taxes since 1976 didn't help his case.
I do agree that it sends the wrong message if the US were to forgive prominent tax cheats, but Fischer's case is different enough to warrant a careful look, IMHO.
Why would Fischer have paid taxes on his 1992 match winnings if he hadn't paid taxes since 1976?
Fischer's case is different only in a negative way. He's famous, and so good to make an example of. He's publicly flaunted his tax evasion, making him a very bad example if he is let off. He is otherwise considered a lawbreaker, making it very tempting to try and get him on anything that might stick. Bad combination. Not paying taxes because you are a wanted criminal does not mean they ignore the taxes. Quite the opposite.
Johan,
1. There was no hint of Fischer's anti-Americanism prior to the Grand Jury indictment. He might just be venting anger for what he perceived in his own mind a betrayal by a country he once loved (speculation, I know).
2. Japan and the Philipines tolerated him for years and they didn't kick his ass off their peaceful islands.
3. Fischer is guilty of is colorful language and insensitive words. He has never physically harmed another individual, nor destroyed property belonging to any individual. He did not form any political party, nor instructed anyone to carryout criminal or terrorist actions. If you listen to his broadcasts carefully, you can detect his little chuckles. I interpret this as frustration with his situation rather than expression of true hatred of Americans.
Mig,
By the time Fischer ended up in a Pasedena jail he was flat broke, living in run-down rooming houses (warning: I believe the source is Chess Life but not sure, so don't take it as established fact). There was probably no taxes owing since 1981 (Pasadena Jailhouse, May 26) and 1992. From 1976 to 1981 I have no idea. I can only go by what is published.
There are only two published sources of "possible " income between 1972 and 1992, according to this site:
http://www.wacklepedia.com/bobby_fischer/Bobby_Fischer_Biography.html
1. 1977 3-game match with the MIT Greenblatt computer. No mention of how much money.
2. 1988 Fischer patented the Fischer Clock. I find this "fact" dubious and in any case there was no later mention of income from this invention.
Based on the above, it seems rather moot whether Fischer did or did not file for taxes during 1975-1992 because no taxes were owing. Thus, one would assume proclivity to not pay taxes based on Fischer's behaviour during this period is also moot.
Meant to post:
"...taxes during 1976-1992..."
Speaking of what's published, you forget royalties on Fischer's books and other writings. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess is still one of the best-selling chess books in the US. Considering the international market this is a significant sum. (Although he famously got nothing when the USSR issued its own version of 60 Memorable Games.) Apparently some payments broke down after he largely disappeared in 1992, but that's not the era under discussion. Fischer mentioned his royalty income several times.
And of course you also have to pay taxes on investment income, including bank account interest. And the 1992 match is not irrelevant. It's not about proclivity or anything other than whether or not Fischer has paid US taxes on all of his income for every single year.
Mig,
True, dat.
Royalty and interest did slip my mind. There is still at least one more loophole for Fischer during the 1976-1992 period, and that is whether income from all sources, including royalties and interest, is sufficient for taxes payable for any given year.
Anyway, my orginal contention was, on the balance of probabilities, Fischer having paid taxes prior to 1975 and not paying taxes between 1976-1991 due to no taxes owing, Fischer would have paid taxes for 1992 tax year had there been no Grand Jury indictment. Whether the contention is valid or not rests with whether Fischer had taxes owing or not for that period and that is still unclear to me, even in light of royalties and interest.
Perhaps a better question is, why didn't Fischer pay taxes between 1976 and 1992? He later bragged about it but it was after the Grand Jury indictment and I speculate it was to further embarass the US government, not because there was any real taxes owing (referring to the 1976-1991 period, specifically excluding the income from the 1992 Match - should have made that clear earlier).
"It's not about proclivity or anything other than whether or not Fischer has paid US taxes on all of his income for every single year." [MIG]
Yes, but what if Fischer or anyone were prevented from paying taxes through force majeure? I guess only a tax lawyer can answer that.
"Although he famously got nothing when the USSR issued its own version of 60 Memorable Games." (Mig).
Kirsan helpfully informs: (http://kirsan.kalmykia.ru/engl/friends3.htm):
"On December 15, 1995 I arrived in Budapest to meet with grand master Lilienthal and Bobby Fisher. I brought the money, $100,000, the USSR’s debt for the pirated edition of Fisher’s chess matches. All night long we played chess by his rules. I gave Bobby a certificate of land allotment in Kalmuckia, and presented him some Kalmuckian black caviar at which Bobby was very pleased."
Can IRS also be interested in income in the form of Kalmyk land and black caviar?
I remember that and looked it up recently as well, but I believe it was debunked. If I recall, Fischer said he never got any money from Ilyumzhinov in one of his radio interviews. Either way, it would be worth it to have Ilyumzhinov testifying in the trial!
Boredofyou:
"2. Japan and the Philipines tolerated him for years and they didn't kick his ass off their peaceful islands."
Well they're somewhat bigger countries :) Plus, Fischer wasn't so much an official resident of those countries, as an elusive character showing up occasionally for radio interviews. In the future, if Fischer goes to Iceland, his name and views will be tied to the Icelandic people who gave him sanctuary and even applauded him.
"3. Fischer is guilty of is colorful language and insensitive words. He has never physically harmed another individual, nor destroyed property belonging to any individual. He did not form any political party, nor instructed anyone to carryout criminal or terrorist actions. If you listen to his broadcasts carefully, you can detect his little chuckles. I interpret this as frustration with his situation rather than expression of true hatred of Americans."
This is a good example of how incredibly willing people are to defend him. The sad truth is that Bobby Fischer has repeatedly (over at least a 10 year period) - on radio and on his website - said things that are completely unexcusable except as the words of a raving lunatic. His anti-jewish and anti-American rhetoric is more extreme than just about anything you hear from anybody not communicating exclusively by video from mountains in Pakistan.
The love and forgiveness Fischer has received for so many years, due to his past glories, shouldn't extend to excusing or downplaying the sickness of his current persona. Permanent hospitalization is the only solution for this sad sad case of ultimate human demise.
This is all just so ugly like so much that goes on these days and I am certainly at the point now where I am sure I can expect no restraint anywhere and most of all not from the adults in the room. The biggest cheats and liars bask in their omnipotence and bash pissants with sledgehammers. Fischer is not worth the time and my misery.
Fische is simply antiamerican in the sense, he dont
like war's criminals like Bush.
Black sin he have, to hate war's criminals
Johan, you want to imprison mentally ill people permanently only because you don't like what they are saying??
How sick is that?
I didn't say "imprison". I was talking about a mental institution which is where we put people who have lost touch with reality and are doing unacceptable things. It's for his own good really, and if his condition were somehow to improve, I would be very happy and applaud his return to normal life.
The point of the matter is: Fischer needs help of the professional kind - not more backrubbing from people who are so thrilled to be associated with a celebrity that they're willing to overlook very serious mental problems, including severe paranoid delusions.
Today is Fischer's 62nd birthday. Too bad he has to spend it in jail. FYI.