Spencer Weiner/AP

Lauryn Hill has been called the greatest female rapper. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey call her a tax cheat.

"Singer and actress Lauryn N. Hill was charged today with willfully failing to file three years of income tax returns with the IRS," US Attorney Paul Fishman said.

Hill owns and operates four corporations but royalties from her music and movies provide most of her income, which court records say totaled $1.6 million from 2005-2007, the years in which she's accused of failing to file her tax returns.

Calls to her rep and attorney were not immediately returned.

The South Orange, NJ, native is expected in court June 29. If she's found guilty she faces up to three years in prison and a $300,000 fine.

Hill was a member of the hip hop group the Fugees, where she sang lead on "Killing Me Softly With His Song." Her solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" went to number one on the Billboard 200 and produced several hit singles.