According to court documents filed Friday, Helton and his ex-wife, Esther - who serves on the city council - jointly owe $20,651 on taxes due between 2012 and 2014.
"Mr. Helton failed to pay those liabilities, and instead paid wages to himself and to his wife," according to the complaint.
The judge also faces claims that he did not turn over all the federal income and social security taxes he withheld from employee wages at his law firm, Helton Law Firm, PLLC. The IRS complaint says he still owes $9,584, including penalties, on over $13,000 due between September 2013 and June 2014.
"At all times relevant to this complaint, Mr. Helton was the president and 100 percent owner of Helton Law Firm, PLLC," the complaint states. "Mr. Helton signed the the law firm's federal employment tax returns, and had sole signatory authority over its checking account."
Helton could not be reached for comment at his law office.