The state said the auction house helped clients cheat their way out of paying tens of millions of dollars in sales taxes

The auction house Sotheby's will pay $6.25 million to settle charges that it helped art buyers avoid paying taxes. It said the auction house encouraged buyers to state fraudulently that they were acquiring works for resale later.

By Zachary Small Sotheby’s will pay New York State $6.25 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the auction house of helping collectors to avoid paying taxes on art sales worth tens of millions of dollars, according to a settlement with Attorney General ...

Sotheby's will pay $6.25 million and adopt reforms to settle New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit accusing the famed auction house of fraudulently helping clients avoid sales taxes on tens of millions of dollars of art purchases.