Lauryn Hill paid off the more than $970,000 she owed in back taxes and penalties a day ahead of this afternoon's scheduled sentencing, but she still has to do prison time. Last summer, Lauryn pleaded guilty to tax evasion after the feds revealed she failed to pay taxes on $1.8 million in income in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The 37-year-old mother of six faced up to a year in jail for each charge, but due to her repayment, the final sentence was lowered to just three months in prison along with one year of supervised release that will include three months of home confinement. During a forceful statement to the judge in the New Jersey courtroom, Lauryn explained she had always meant to eventually pay the taxes but was unable to during a period of time when she dropped out of the music business.
Sidebar: In late April, US Magistrate Court Judge Madeline Cox Arleo gave the singer two weeks to pay the back taxes, which amounted to more than $900,000. That total included $504,000 in back taxes as well as state taxes and penalties. Last month, Lauryn's attorney said his client planned to pay off the tax debt through a $650,000 loan she is securing against two of her properties. He denied that any of the cash payment came from new music deals. Speaking of new music, Lauryn released this song, Neurotic Society Compulsory Mix, last Friday. In a message posted on her Tumblr page, the singer said: "Here is a link to a piece that I was ‘required’ to release immediately, by virtue of the impending legal deadline. I love being able to reach people directly, but in an ideal scenario, I would not have to rush the release of new music… but the message is still there."
Here's the song.
source: USA Today
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