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Nine times does seem to be a lot of late tax payments, although I'd imagine that Edwards has a lot of properties, and probably can't keep track of everything. I actually think the DC property tax is the most understandable. If you buy a house somewhere, you're not familiar with the dates property taxes are due, nor will you know the exact amount due, until the bill comes. I pay the property tax on my car, but if I never got a bill, I'd never know how much to pay or where to send it. I can imagine the same applies for a house, especially if you don't live there. And I'm willing to bet that the DC department that sends out taxes might not be the most organized place on the planet.

Some of the late taxes on cars are a bit inconsequential, especially if the notices were sent to his house in NC while he was in DC. However, the main problem here is that you've got nine late payments. I certainly don't think he was trying to avoid taxes. I really think that is shows some disorganization in running his personal finances. Since he does travel a lot, and does buy investment properties, it would probably be prudent for him to pay an accountant to handle this type of stuff. Even if you had to pay $100 per hour, it would probably only take three hours a week, and he's save a lot in late fees, interest, and probably in taxes as well, as an accountant could better keep track of receipts, business expenses, etc. Geez, I hope if he becomes President (not bloodly likely), he decides to hire a treasury secretary and not do it himself. ("I was at a summit in Geneva, and never knew that the interest payments on those T-Bonds was due. But I've got my assistant taking the payment to Wall Street right now!")