Today is April 15th...D-Day for filing taxes with the IRS. most of us meet our tax obligations, but high profile celebrities are often pursued by the IRS for tax evasion. Sometimes they pay, but sometimes they wind up in prison. From former Fugees singer Lauryn Hill to actor Wesley Snipes, who was recently released from prison earlier this month after serving over 2 years for owing nearly $17 million in back taxes. The Grio lists 20 Black celebrities with tax problems. Here are a few well known entertainers from the list who are shadow boxing with the IRS:
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick apparently can not only sing her way to the top of the charts with hits like “Anyone Who Had A Heart”,and “Walk On By” but can also hit the top of California Franchise Tax Board “Top Tax Evaders” charts. She has filed for bankruptcy after wracking up more than $10 million in IRS debts over the last 15 years.
Toni Braxton
A singer-songwriter, producer, and actress, Toni Braxton has won multiple Grammy Awards, sold over 40 million albums internationally, released 6 top ten singles, and five of her six studio albums have achieved Gold or Platinum status. She filed for bankruptcy for the second time in 2010. Toni Braxton has an estimated net worth of -$50 million dollars.
Faith Evans
R&B singer (and wife of the late Notorious BIG) Faith Evans has recently found herself in serious tax trouble. This March it was reported that she owes as much as $360,000 in back taxes. The singer/songwriter, actress, record producer and author has an estimated net worth of $8 million. Faith Evans accumulated her net worth through her successful recording career, her performance in film and television, and her book "Keeping the Faith" which was on New York's Best Seller List.
Prince
An American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor, Prince has an estimated net worth of $250 million dollars. He has won a Golden Globe, seven Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award during his career. However, Prince’s PRN Music Corp. owes thousands in unpaid taxes for 2009 to state and other government bodies. Carver County tax records show the legendary “Purple One” is drowning in red ink.
Flavor Flav
Rapper Flavor Flav, born William Drayton Jr., has a net worth of $9 million. After working together on a college radio project, Flavor Flav and Chuck D. created the beginning sounds of what would soon became the hip hop group Public Enemy which signed with Def Jam Records in 1986. Fast forward to 2004 when Flav appeared on the third season of VH1 reality show The Surreal Life where he began a relationship with actress Brigitte Neilsen and went on to star in their own spin-off show, Strange Love. When the relationship failed, Flav was given his own reality series Flavor of Love, which lasted three seasons with top ratings and spawned three direct spin-off shows.
According to The Detroit News, the 50-year-old Public Enemy hype man and unlikely reality show star was delinquent on his taxes in 2009, owing $183,000.
Nas
Another addition to hip-hop’s illustrious, or one might argue infamous, list of tax cheats is Nas.
Nasir Bin Olu Daren Jones (A.K.A. Nas) is a rapper and actor with an estimated net worth of $17 million. Already smarting from a very messy and public divorce battle with ex-wife Kelis, it was revealed last year that the rapper owes over $2.5 million in taxes to the government.
Damon Dash
Damon Dash is a record producer and the co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records who has a net worth of -$2 million. Dash co-founded Roc-A-Fella with rapper Jay Z. Dash was at one time one of Hip-Hop's most successful moguls, once had an estimated net worth of $50 million. Today Damon Dash owes $2 million in taxes.
Back when music mogul Damon Dash lived the “Big Pimpin” life style like former homie Jay-Z, he seemed to neglect to pay his taxes. In 2007 Dash was sent a hefty $2 million bill by the state of New York.
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