Lauryn Hill Faces Federal Tax Charges

Fourteen years after she released her classic album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the IRS is teaching the former Fugees singer a lesson on the importance of filing her taxes. Lauryn Hill was charged Thursday (June 7) with failing to file three years of income-tax returns, and now the government is looking to settle the score.

A press release issued to MTV News states that Hill, who owns four different corporations, makes most of her money from music and film royalties. In the three years in which Hill failed to file, the IRS estimates that she's earned more than $1.6 million in income. If found guilty, she could face up to three years in prison and a $300,000 fine.

The news comes just days after Hill performed in her native New Jersey at Hot 97's annual Summer Jam concert, surprising concertgoers with a short but impactful performance. She was a special guest during Nas' set and performed the Fugees' "Ready or Not," her own "Lost Ones" and "If I Ruled the World" with the Queensbridge rap legend. Hill was originally scheduled to come out as a guest during Nicki MInaj's set, but after a Hot 97 DJ insulted the Young Money queen, Lil Wayne insisted that none of his artists perform at the concert.

While Hill admitted that she was unaware of the specifics, she issued a statement in support of Minaj. "I don't have details on exactly what transpired between the station and the artists, but I do support artists standing by their beliefs and walking with integrity," she wrote. "We have to find a better way to commercially exploit music while giving artists their proper respect. This cannot be done while taking their contributions for granted or trying to control the scope of their growth and power through threats and fear tactics."

Hill is scheduled to appear in court on June 29.