Fat Joe has denied reports that he owes the government $150,000 in back taxes. The Bronx-born Boricua and his company Terror Squad Productions were accused of owing the New Jersey Treasury over $70,000 in back taxes – a total liability of close to $150,000 – in various media reports this week.

“I definitely pay my taxes. I’m straight up with it. “The first thing I ever learned in the entertainment business is you gotta pay the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). First thing. Before I take a dollar, before I buy me a bag of potato chips, I pay those people. “I been in the game twelve years, I’ve never had no accusations of owing nobody, or owing taxes or nothing like that. Where does this come from?”

Joe’s accountant, Brian Dittrich, said that he is investigating the report:

“I’ve represented Joe in matters of taxation for close to twelve years. It is my understanding that Joe is current with all federal and state taxes and that there are no balances due.”