ICYMI: 11Alive: “Does Herschel Walker’s tax break violate Texas, Georgia laws?”

“The government agency will ask Walker if the Westlake home is still his primary residence. The agency could also check Walker’s license to see if it matches the home’s address.”

According to a new report from 11Alive, Texas tax authorities are planning to investigate Georgia Republican U.S. Senate nominee Herschel Walker over his homestead tax exemption, asking for copies of his driver’s license that he refused to provide. Walker is potentially running afoul of tax and residency requirements in the state and “could be asked to repay the difference this year.” 

In addition to investigations by Texas authorities, a complaint has already been filed in Georgia calling on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Attorney General’s office to probe whether Walker “violated the law by receiving a tax break on his Texas home […] even as he runs for federal office in Georgia.” 

11Alive: Does Herschel Walker’s tax break violate Texas, Georgia laws?

By Nick Wooten — November 28, 2022

Key Points: 

• Republican Herschel Walker is claiming a tax exemption on a Texas home despite running for office and registering to vote in Georgia – potentially running afoul of tax and residency requirements in the states. 

• Taxing authorities in Tarrant County, Texas, told 11Alive that they plan to ask the former football star if the house is still his primary residence, a condition required by the state to receive a homestead exemption. The break could be terminated, and Walker could be asked to repay the difference this year.

• The exemption, reported by CNN and also reported by 11Alive in 2021, has also raised questions about Walker’s Georgia residency. Walker registered to vote in Fulton County in August 2021, using the address of his wife’s home.

• Jeff Law, the chief appraiser of the Tarrant Appraisal District, told 11Alive that the government agency will ask Walker if the Westlake home is still his primary residence. The agency could also check Walker’s license to see if it matches the home’s address.

• The Tarrant Appraisal District oversees the county’s property tax appraisal and exemption administration. 

• “Texas law says that his driver’s license has to have on it the same address as the home that he is claiming as his principal residency,” Law said. 

• Law added that registering to vote in Georgia is an “indicator” that Walker may no longer be a Texas resident.

• Walker’s campaign did not respond to questions from 11Alive about his driver’s license.

• Election records maintained by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office show that Walker registered to vote in Fulton County on Aug. 17, 2021. He listed his address as a Buckhead home owned by his wife Julie Blanchard.

• State election officials investigated allegations that Blanchard illegally voted in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election while the couple lived in Texas. At the time, Walker was a registered voter in Texas. Data from the Texas Secretary of State shows Walker registered to vote there on Oct.8, 2020. 

• “The Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office must immediately investigate whether Herschel Walker lied about being a Georgia resident,” Georgia Democratic Party Chair and U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams said in response to the letter. “Georgians deserve answers, and Walker must be held accountable for his pattern of lies and disturbing conduct. This is yet another reminder that Walker lacks both the competence and character to be our U.S. Senator.”

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