Democrats Claim Dr. Mehmet Oz Underpaid Taxes Ahead of Senate Confirmation Hearing

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee have accused Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former TV doctor nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, of significantly underpaying his taxes. Specifically, they claim that Oz did not pay any Medicare or Social Security taxes in 2023 and paid minimal amounts in 2022. This accusation was detailed in a memo summarizing Oz’s tax returns from 2021 through 2023 related to his holdings in Oz Property Holdings LLC, obtained by NBC News.

The memo reportedly suggests that Oz avoided paying "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in Social Security and Medicare taxes. Democrats emphasized that Oz's stance regarding these payments contradicts the Treasury Department's position and highlights the irony, given that he seeks to oversee the very programs to which he allegedly did not contribute fully.

In response, a representative for Dr. Oz maintained that he is entirely compliant with the law. Christopher Krepioch, his spokesperson, stated that the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) thoroughly reviewed Oz’s financial background during standard vetting and confirmed that any potential conflicts have been resolved.

Republican Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, also supported Dr. Oz, noting that he had submitted extensive documentation and acted lawfully. Oz's confirmation hearing will have significant implications, as he would manage Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, programs serving millions of Americans, including vulnerable populations.

Beyond tax issues, Democrats are expected to question Oz concerning his financial interests in for-profit healthcare companies that would be under his regulatory authority if he is confirmed. Reports have disclosed his substantial net worth, which ranges between $98 million and $332 million, and noted his substantial investments in healthcare, pharmaceutical, and related industries. Oz has pledged, according to a government ethics filing, to divest from these potentially conflicting interests within three months of confirmation and recuse himself from issues affecting those investments until then.