Disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is awaiting a new trial for the murders of his wife and son, now faces a separate financial crisis. The South Carolina Department of Revenue has listed Murdaugh among the state's biggest individual tax delinquents, with an outstanding debt exceeding $1.6 million in unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.
The state agency published its latest quarterly report of top delinquent taxpayers on July 16, listing “Murdaugh, Richard” as owing $1,630,201.02. That amount places him as the fourth-largest individual debtor on the current list. The department stated that it releases the names and balances of delinquent taxpayers to promote “transparency, fairness and compliance” with state tax laws.
Before taxpayers appear on the public list, revenue officials said they make repeated attempts to resolve the debt through letters, phone calls, or personal contact. A state tax lien has also been filed against each person named, making the debt a matter of public record. “We’ve sent letters, made calls, or attempted personal contact multiple times with no resolution,” the department explains in its online frequently asked questions.
Murdaugh’s seven-figure tax debt adds to the legal and financial turmoil surrounding him. He was convicted in March 2023 of murdering his wife, Maggie, and their son, Paul, at the family's hunting estate in Colleton County. Prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed them to gain sympathy and distract from a collapsing web of financial crimes, stolen client money, and lies that were about to be exposed.
The convictions were later thrown into doubt after allegations emerged that Colleton County court clerk Rebecca Hill made improper comments to jurors during the trial. Murdaugh’s defense team argued that Hill tampered with the jury to secure a guilty verdict and boost publicity for a book she was writing. The South Carolina Supreme Court ultimately reversed the murder and weapons convictions and remanded the case for a new trial, finding that Hill was drawn by the “siren call of celebrity” and allowed public attention to overcome her duty.
Murdaugh’s attorneys have already begun preparing for the retrial. They have filed motions to test unknown male DNA reportedly found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails, a move that could play a central role in the defense strategy. The state has maintained that Murdaugh received a fair trial and has opposed the reversal.
Dick Harpootlian, one of Murdaugh’s lead attorneys, previously told Fox News Digital that the legal team received a substantial flat fee upfront roughly five years ago and would remain on the case through its conclusion. “We got paid a fee up front, you know, five years ago. It was a big fee,” Harpootlian said. “So we're in the case until it's over.” He acknowledged that the yearslong legal battle could prove costly for his firm but said that risk is inherent in his work. “Sometimes you take cases that turn out to be economically losers, but that’s the nature of the game,” he added.
Murdaugh, once a powerful Lowcountry lawyer from a prominent legal dynasty, has seen his life unravel since the murders and the subsequent investigation into his financial crimes. He has also pleaded guilty to dozens of federal and state charges related to stealing millions of dollars from clients and his former law firm. The tax debt is the latest in a series of financial and legal setbacks that have stripped him of his wealth, career, and freedom.
The South Carolina Department of Revenue updates its list of top delinquent taxpayers quarterly, and Murdaugh’s name is expected to remain on it until the debt is resolved. The agency’s efforts to collect the money have so far been unsuccessful, and the state tax lien ensures that the debt will follow Murdaugh even as he prepares for his second murder trial.
