File Photo: Mehmet Oz will speak at a campaign rally held in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania on November 7, 2022.
Caroline Gutman | Washington Post | Getty Images
A candidate for President Donald Trump, who oversees the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, may have “significantly” low-wage Medicare and Social Security taxes in recent years, according to a memo from the Senate Finance Committee’s Democratic staff, obtained by NBC News.
According to a memo outlining reviews of OZ’s tax returns from 2021, 2022 and 2023, OZ paid Medicare or Social Security tax in 2023 and did not pay “negligible” amounts in 2022. Media Entity Oz Properties Holdings LLC.
Overall, Democrat Committee staff said OZ earned a low wage of $440,667 in Social Security and Medicare taxes.
According to the memo, during a meeting with Oz and his accountants, Democrat Committee staff asked OZ to include income from Oz Property Holdings LLC in the SECA tax calculations to amend his tax return. Oz claimed that he was not liable for taxes as he was a “limited partner” of Oz Property Holdings LLC.
Democrat committee staff claimed he was “actively involved” with the company and that he should pay more in self-employment tax.
“Dr. Oz’s position is contrary to his position as the Treasury, which will result in him not paying for Social Security and Medicare.
Oz spokesman Christopher Crepiocci told NBC News in a statement in response to the memo. “The government’s Ethics Bureau conducted an extensive review of Dr. Oz’s finances as part of the usual review process. The OGE has sent a letter to the Senate indicating that a potential dispute has been resolved and that he is in compliance with the law.”
Pennsylvania Republican US Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz will speak at a campaign rally ahead of the November 8, 2022 medium-term elections in Wexford, Pennsylvania.
Mike Seger | Reuters
NBC News does not independently examine the findings of the memo.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
TV personality and surgeon Oz is scheduled to appear before the Senate Finance Committee for a confirmation hearing on Friday.
As a CMS administrator, OZ oversees the vast institutions responsible for Medicare and Medicaid management, as well as insurance exchanges for Affordable Care Act. CMS provides healthcare to over 160 million people.
Senate Democrats had raised concerns earlier about Oz’s ability to primarily surround his defense to lead all Americans to the Medicare advantage.
Oz failed a Republican Senate campaign in Pennsylvania in 2022 and has no experience with federal agencies.
