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Marlee Matlin may have proven her business savvy on 'Celebrity Apprentice' but she doesn't seem to have her own monetary affairs in order -- the actress owes $50,000 in unpaid 2009 taxes to
the IRS, according to People. But she's not skipping out on Uncle Sam, Matlin is devising a plan to pay off her debt to the government.
"I'm paying it back. I'm not shying away from it and I'm certainly not ashamed of it," Matlin told People. "It doesn't mean I'm a bad person. It's reality. It's the reality that a lot of people in America are facing."
Although the stigma of being a Hollywood A-lister conjures the image of a certain standard of living, Matlin promises that her previous inability to make good on her taxes has nothing to do with frivolous spending.
"Living modestly in a suburban neighborhood while trying to support four children through private school is not extravagant or living large," Matlin said. "My husband is a Los Angeles area police officer and between the two of us we have always made ends meet in the past -- and we will in this circumstance as well."
Matlin became a household name after nabbing a 1986 Best Actress Oscar for her role in 'Children of a Lesser God.' But with varying and inconsistent gigs, she insists that she isn't rolling in the dough like many of her fellow Hollywoodland peers. A financial situation that is forcing her family to make some major changes -- including putting their home up for sale.
"At the end of the day, it's about the best interests of the children," she said. "Transitioning out of a private school environment will certainly relieve some of the financial pressures but hopefully this will not compromise the kids."
But like any good mother and wife, Matlin just feels lucky that her family is "healthy and happy." And hey, if she can stick around the boardroom long enough, she may find herself hearing the magic words, "you're hired," from Donald Trump himself.
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