N.O. home owned by Cage facing liens

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Federal tax liens on two properties Nicolas Cage owns in New Orleans should not impact the actor's efforts to sell them, an expert says.

Dorian Bennett of Dorian Bennett Sotheby's International Realty said the liens imposed by the Internal Revenue Service would likely not interfere with Cage's ongoing attempts to sell a home along with another New Orleans property, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported Sunday.

"It doesn't do anything, quite frankly," said Bennett, whose company is listing both of Cage's New Orleans properties. "There are lots of people with lots of personal issues who are selling property."

"It's nothing more than just a legal issue and a monetary issue."

The liens attached to Cage's mansion in New Orleans' French Quarter include a $6.26 million bill for an alleged lack of income tax payments by the "Next" star in 2007.

The second lien filed with the Orleans Parish Recorder of Mortgages is for nearly $360,546 for allegedly missing income taxes between 2002 and 2004.

The Times-Picayune said if Cage sells the home without paying off the liens, the IRS can deduct the funds from the proceeds of the sale.