Lauryn Hill Failed to Pay State Taxes, Too

The tax problems are continuing for Lauryn Hill.

TMZ is reporting that the New Jersey singer/rapper owes $446,386 in unpaid taxes to her home state. This new bill comes on top of the taxes she owed to the federal government, which came after her for failure to file returns in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Back in June, she pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was released on $150,000 bond, with a sentencing hearing set for November.

Following the issue coming to light, she penned a letter to her fans via her tumblr page. She wrote:

“I did not deliberately abandon my fans, nor did I deliberately abandon any responsibilities, but I did however put my safety, health and freedom and the freedom, safety and health of my family first over all other material concerns! I also embraced my right to resist a system intentionally opposing my right to whole and integral survival.

I conveyed all of this when questioned as to why I did not file taxes during this time period. Obviously, the danger I faced was not accepted as reasonable grounds for deferring my tax payments, as authorities, who despite being told all of this, still chose to pursue action against me, as opposed to finding an alternative solution.

My intention has always been to get this situation rectified. When I was working consistently without being affected by the interferences mentioned above, I filed and paid my taxes. This only stopped when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of myself and my family.

As this, and other areas of issue are resolved and set straight, I am able to get back to doing what I should be doing, the way it should be done. This is part of that process. To those supporters who were told that I abandoned them, that is untrue. I abandoned greed, corruption, and compromise, never you, and never the artistic gifts and abilities that sustained me.”