R&B singer and former Fugees star, Lauryn Hill is said to be inking a new record deal with Sony Music in order to settle her $504,000 unpaid tax bill and avoid prison time.

According to Billboard, Hill was granted an extra week (until 6 May) at a court sentencing yesterday to come up with the funds, with it revealed during the case that the singer was on the verge of a $1 million contract with the major label. The AV Club report that the deal only involves releasing five tracks in total.

The 37 year-old pleaded guilty last year to tax evasion on all earnings between 2005 and 2007. She’s not released a new album since 2002′s live effort MTV Unplugged No. 2.0.

[screenshot from ‘Killing Me Softly’ video]