Ackerman facing federal tax liens

Three state and federal tax liens totaling more than $125,000 have been filed against Philadelphia School Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman.

The debt dates to 2006 and 2007 when Ackerman was superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District.

Michael Gillen, director of the tax accounting group at Duane Morris L.L.P. who represents Ackerman, said she had been making payments and had entered into a payment agreement with the Internal Revenue Service.

He said he was working with the IRS to determine how much she owed, but he expects what she will pay "will be much less than" the amount listed in the liens.

"All of these liabilities arose prior to Dr. Ackerman's current position," he said. "That's why we refer to them as 'old.' "

Gillen, who is a certified public accountant, said Ackerman's debt stemmed from changes that the San Francisco district made in the way it reported her compensation, including benefits.

"This is not a failure-to-file issue," he said. "This is a correction by Dr. Ackerman's employer from some time ago."

The communications office at the San Francisco Unified School District did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Gillen said that Ackerman was in compliance and had begun repaying the debt before the liens were filed.

"In this case," Gillen said, "these liens were filed late in my mind."

Jamilah Fraser, a school district spokeswoman, said Ackerman finalized an installment payment agreement with the IRS last month.

"Almost one year prior to this agreement, Dr. Ackerman voluntarily began making monthly payments to the IRS," Fraser said.

In February, the IRS filed a lien in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas of $20,021 for 2007 income taxes.

The IRS had filed a separate lien in 2008 of $78,100 against Ackerman for 2006 taxes. That lien was filed in the New York City Register's Office because Ackerman was an education professor at Columbia University's Teachers College and living in New York at the time, Gillen said.

In addition, the state of California filed a $28,389 line in 2009 for state taxes.

Because of the payments Ackerman has made, she owes only about $1,000 to California and is about to satisfy that debt, he said.

"This is not an issue of late filing or late payment, Gillen said. "Dr. Ackerman, while in California, did what every other responsible American does. She hired someone to prepare her tax return." He said the firm was supposed to handle it promptly but did not.

When Ackerman arrived in Philadelphia, she hired Duane Morris. That is the same law firm that employs Robert L. Archie Jr., chairman of the School Reform Commission.

In Philadelphia, Ackerman is paid $348,000 in salary annually, plus perks including performance bonuses, a car, and contributions to a retirement fund.