IRS Files Tax Liens Against Singer Wyclef Jean, Producer Swizz, And More Rappers In New York And Los Angeles

The Internal Revenue Service has filed tax liens totaling $2.1 million against Haitian born singer Wyclef Jean, who recently announced his plans to run for the presidency of his native country.  The singer was not the only American performer to have tax liens filed against them by the IRS due to poor tax planning and business management. Recently, rapper Young Buck and top producer Swizz, who just married singer Alicia Keyes, also had major tax liens filed against them by the IRS. If they had come to the Tax Resolution Institute for both tax planning before the fact or tax resolution after their money was mishandled, such tax problems would never have arisen.

Wyclef Jean In Tax Lien Trouble With IRS

The IRS filed three tax liens against Wyclef Jean for his 2006, 2007 and 2008 taxes. The agency filed the first tax lien in 2007 for $792,269, the second tax lien was filed last July for $599,167 and the third tax lien was filed in May of this year for $724,332. The 37-year-old singer, who was a member of the Fugees, has paid off earlier tax liens from New Jersey and New York for smaller amounts. The tax liens took on a deeper significance recently after Jean announced his plans to run for the presidency of Haiti. In addition, the besieged singer announced he would resign as leader of his charitable foundation, Yele Haiti, which has been providing aid to the country.

Poor Tax Planning: Singers And Rappers With IRS Tax Liens

Should being such an extremely delinquent d taxpayer preclude Jean from trying to reverse the fortunes of his homeland? From our perspective as tax planning and tax resolution services experts, such an inquiry is not really the question at hand. What is more important is that Jean is just one more example of American performers, both singers and rappers, with serious problems with the IRS.

Besides Jean, chart-topping producer Swizz, who married music superstar Alicia Keys last weekend off the coast of X, has had 35 tax liens placed against him over the course of the last seven years. Swizz, born Kasseem Dean, owed more than $4.1 million in three different states between 2003 and 2010. Although he is paying on the bill, the hit making producer still owes over $2.1 million to the IRS. It is one more example of a high profile individual with federal income tax problems and state income tax problems at the same time.

Tax Lien Filed Against Star Producer Swizz

In addition, Detroit rapper Obie Trice owes almost $300,000 dollars to the government.  The IRS filed a tax lien against Obie Trice on June 21st, claiming the rapper is behind on taxes to the tune of $298,000. Earlier this week, federal agents raided the home of Nashville, Tennessee rap star Young Buck and confiscated computers, studio equipment and other assets, to help offset his $300,000 tax burden.

These tax problems should be a huge wake-up call for all entertainers to stay on top of their business affairs by having the best tax planning accountants and tax resolution experts on their personal teams. The Tax Resolution Institute is not only the preeminent Tax Resolution Services firm in the country. In addition, through Creative Arts Management, TRI provides first-rate long-term tax planning and business management. If Wyclef Jean had chosen the Tax Resolution Institute to represent him from the beginning, he never would have found himself in such an untenable position and his passionate run for Haiti’s presidency would not be marred by IRS tax liens and financial scandals.