By Jam Donaldson on Aug 5th 2010 10:40AM
In the ultimate case of get your own house in order first,
Wyclef Jean, who
announced his candidacy for Haiti's presidency on Wednesday, owes the
Internal Revenue Service more than $2.1 million.
The Smoking Gun is reporting that there are
millions in federal tax liens filed against the musician.
The Smoking Gun has posted documents obtained from New Jersey's
Bergen County Clerk's Office. Apparently, the IRS filed a $724,332 tax lien against Jean (whose real name is
Nel W. Jean) in May. Last July, the agency filed a $599,167 lien against the performer, and a $792,269 lien was filed against him in July 2007. The liens cover taxes due on Jean's individual 1040 returns for 2006, 2007 and 2008.
So let me get this straight:
You can't pay your own taxes but you want to run a country?
The three IRS liens were filed against Jean's home in Saddle River, N.J. In 1998, Jean purchased the $1.85 million home, where now he lives with his wife,
Claudinette, and their family.
Jean, 37, has previously been the subject of two smaller tax liens filed against him by the state of New Jersey and the
New York State Tax Commission -- both of which were eventually paid in full.
Is there suddenly a dearth of accountants in this country? What is wrong with these people? From
Redd Foxx to
Willie Nelson, don't these entertainers know that it may not be today, and it may not be tomorrow, but the government is going to get their money.
Jean was also criticized for the way he
handled the finances for his charitable foundation, Yele Haiti. Tax returns indicated that Jean used his foundation to pay himself and a business partner more than $410,000 for rent, production services and Jean's appearance at a benefit concert.
Ok, how do you pay
yourself to perform at your own benefit's concert?
Experts on nonprofits later spoke up in Jean's defense, saying there was no concrete evidence to corroborate wrongdoing on Jean's part.
Uh huh. I hope the people of Haiti know what they're getting into.
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Comments: (10)
Add a comment
By: THE TRUTH on 8/05/2010 1:12PM
Sounds to me like he's on the right track. Politicians rarely pay their taxes, lie, steal and cheat their way through life as if the rules don't apply to them.
If he owes that much in taxes, you can only imagine how much money he really makes yet he fails to care. He'll be crying when he's in jail.
:-)
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By: Eugene on 8/05/2010 3:32PM
I am shocked. NOT!!!
Another celebrity who has failed to pay their share of income taxes.
This kind of story is really becoming redundant. News media outlets should just have a template set up that says 'IRS hits (blank) with tax lien', so all they have to do is insert the name of the deadbeat celebrity in the blank spot.
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By: johnny on 8/06/2010 11:44AM
Our government is in fear of Wyclef Jean.
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By: dena on 8/06/2010 8:45PM
i was thinking the same thing. since he's running for presidency of haiti...
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By: Sue on 8/06/2010 6:00PM
I think Government is trying to get there money BEFORE Wyclef leaves the USA and heads off to Haiti to become president.. Wyclef must have really had a brain fart. He must have woke up one day and said "I think I'll run for presidency in Haiti." This man can't even pay taxes here in America how the h-ll does he expect to run a country? I heard of stars not wanting to be stereotyped into one box. BUT this is ridiculous. Singer to President.. That's really funny. What qualifications does he have to run Haiti when he can't even pay his own debts? I hate to say this BUT I Will. I think Wyclef should have left things as they were because he has opened up a closet door that is gonna be h-ll to close.. The way it looks if he doesn't make ammends and come up with three million dollars fast he'll be president of his own jail cell.
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By: dena on 8/06/2010 8:50PM
sue, you are an ass! there are a lot of politicans who don't do what they make illegal and against the law of the citizens.
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By: Marvice on 8/06/2010 9:40PM
Isn't it funny how the government can't seem to protect our borders but they can always track down someone that didn't give them the money that they made with no help from the government.
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By: Robert on 8/06/2010 9:17PM
The 4% Rich do not pay taxes. We have been taught by this system to love money and all of its ways. Why is this such a surprise? But if you are a minority your money will be a target. America is going to knock on Wyclef's door and tell him "If you run we will kill you." "You can't bring success/hope to the poor Blacks." Let's see, Wyclef never was head of a guerrilla army, plotted genocide, never threatened the US, or performed a military coup. If the worst that happens is he steals money they don't even have then the Haitians will handle him. VOTE WYCLEF. Haiti needs success. And Wyclef is the least of their troubles. Lets vote him in before another dictator sent by White government moves in.
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By: ThatBKChick on 8/07/2010 5:38PM
Well points taken on the governments to faced policies...I remember Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton had not filed their taxes before she threw her hat in the ring, as well as other noted candidates....but to be fair, WyClef has some serious issues such as Yele and funding him and his jump-off and his IRS issues to try and settle before he tries to run a country...try running your private affairs first. I agree "get your house in order" before you try and run someone else's.
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By: ADMR on 8/11/2010 7:51PM
What Time Is It?
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