| Getting a Federal tax lien against your property is not | | | | What you need to do in the face of an IRS lien is to |
| a good thing and you need to deal with it as soon as | | | | make a deal with the Internal Revenue Service to |
| possible. An IRS tax lien is when the IRS places a lien | | | | settle your debt. But, remember you do not need to |
| against your property for security against your IRS | | | | give in quietly. You should take the IRS to task. They |
| debt (to make sure you don't sell property without | | | | make mistakes too and need to be held accountable |
| paying back taxes owed). Liens are bad for a number | | | | for all their actions. You have rights as a tax payer |
| of reasons. You can not sell your property without | | | | and should make yourself aware of these rights. It |
| satisfying the lien, you may not be able to secure | | | | does happen sometimes that liens are placed in error |
| further financing for cars, houses or other hard assets | | | | and have to be immediately removed. |
| and of course, it does not look good on your credit | | | | Because of the serious nature of a Federal tax lien |
| report. A lien is the government's first hard ball tactic in | | | | you should consult a tax professional to help deal with |
| collecting back taxes and should be taken seriously. | | | | the situation. Tax experts know all there is to know |
| The IRS issues a Federal tax lien when tax payers | | | | about IRS collection mechanisms and what role the |
| have in one way or another chosen not to deal with | | | | government and tax payer has in resolving them. This |
| their tax liability or have ignored it completely. It is the | | | | is a time to exercise extreme caution because even |
| government's way of ensuring that no matter what | | | | though you do have rights, knowing those rights is |
| they will get their money out of you. It is a powerful | | | | going to come into play and make a very large |
| weapon and it usually works. It can scare most people | | | | difference. If you have filed your back taxes, and have |
| into paying their tax bills immediately. If you do not deal | | | | a plan to repay them you are half way there to getting |
| with the lien the IRS can start issue a tax levy which | | | | your tax lien released. Usually a tax lien will not be |
| means they will seize your property and start to sell it | | | | released until the debt is repaid. A professional back |
| at auction to satisfy the tax liability. It cannot be stating | | | | taxes firm can help you get the best settlement |
| strongly enough how important it is to deal with a tax | | | | outcome and agreement with the IRS so you can |
| lien from the Feds before or as soon as it happens. | | | | quickly pay off your taxes and get the lien removed. |