Mary J. Blige Slapped With $3.4 Million Tax Lien
Mary J. Blige's tax debt has ballooned out of control. Months after being exposed over a more than $900,000 debt to the state of New Jersey comes a separate $3.4 million tax lien from the IRS.
Uncle Sam is accusing Blige of failing to pay income taxes three years in a row, starting in 2009. Reportedly, the 43-year-old owes $574,907.30 from 2009, $2,203,743.53 from 2010, and $647, 604.60 for the following year, bringing her grand total to $3,426,255.43.
In addition to the multi-million dollar tax bill, the "No More Drama" singer is facing a pair of lawsuits, also over unpaid bills. Last November, she and husband Martin Kendu Isaacs were sued for defaulting on a $2.2 million Signature Bank loan, in addition to a $500,000 Bank of America loan resulting in another lawsuit against the singer.
Money woes continue to eat away at Blige's fortune, which at one point stood around $45 million. Today, she's said to be worth $5 million, far less than needed to cover all of her bills, but the Queen of Hip Hop Soul isn't turning a blind eye to the growing deficit. According to a rep, she is "continuing to work with her new team to resolve these issues as quickly as possible."
It's a good thing Blige wants to settle her financial strife because the IRS has shown of late it doesn't give anyone special treatment, especially celebrities. Lauryn Hill was sentenced to prison time over unpaid taxes.
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(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)