Prosecutors allege Mencia failed to file personal and corporate tax returns over a six-year period and did not report about $8.7 million in income, resulting in more than $300,000 in unpaid state taxes.
The case is the first brought by the district attorney's newly launched Business Tax Fraud Unit.
In February 2007, the comedian-turned-podcaster Joe Rogan accused Mencia of plagiarism onstage at the Comedy Store in L.A. in a confrontation captured on video.
Rogan mocked him as "Carlos Menstealia," alleging that Mencia stole material from fellow comedians including George Lopez, Ari Shaffir and Bobby Lee. Mencia then took the stage and confronted Rogan, defending himself against the accusations.
In the aftermath of the incident, however, Mencia's Comedy Central series "Mind of Mencia" ended in 2008 after a four-year run.
According to his IMDB page, Mencia later appeared in the film "Our Family Wedding" in 2010, the TV series "La Chamba" in 2012, and the 2011 comedy special "Carlos Mencia: New Territory."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.