Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin reveals she owes $50,000 in back taxes

New York City, NY, United States (AHN Entertainment) - Marlee Matlin is proving to be a force to be reckoned with as a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" this season, but it seems like the Academy Award-winning actress is also battling against Uncle Sam.

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According to People magazine, the 45-year-old actress owes about $50,000 in back taxes from 2009, and she's working out a schedule to make good on her commitment to the IRS.

"I'm paying it back. I'm not shying away from it and I'm certainly not ashamed of it," Matlin said.. "It doesn't mean I'm a bad person. It's reality. It's the reality that a lot of people in America are facing."

Matlin, who won the Best Actress Oscar for the 1986 film "Children of a Lesser God," revealed that she lives a life far from the extravagant life many people assume she lives.

"Living modestly in a suburban neighborhood while trying to support four children through private school is not extravagant or living large," Matlin said. "My husband is a Los Angeles area police officer and between the two of us we have always made ends meet in the past - and we will in this circumstance as well."

In a recent episode of "Celebrity Apprentice," the actress lead helped her team raise more than $1 million in one task for charity, making it the most money ever raised in a non-finale episode of show.

Perhaps the charity she donated all that money to would throw some back her way.

Matlin also admitted that the family's home is up for sale and they plan to move to a community with a good public school.

"At the end of the day, it's about the best interests of the children," she said. "Transitioning out of a private school environment will certainly relieve some of the financial pressures but hopefully this will not compromise the kids."

Matlin reassured that she's not "broke," and instead said she's lucky because, "My family is healthy and happy."

"Celebrity Apprentice" airs on Sundays on NBC.