How to Get IRS Tax Lien Help

January 17th, 2010

The IRS has the most powerful collection tools available to them in order to collect on delinquent taxes.  A tax lien is just one of the many ways the IRS will use to get you to pay your taxes.  If you have gotten this far, it typically means you did not act on previous attempts by the IRS to contact you and now need IRS Tax Lien help!

Once you become delinquent on your taxes the IRS will send you a Deficiency notice.  This notice alerts you to the fact that you owe taxes and have missed the due date.  At this point you really should contact the IRS immediately and work out a suitable arrangement to get the taxes paid!  If you fail to do so, or ignore this notice you are then subject to a lien.

In order to find IRS tax lien help, you need to contact a tax professional immediately!  Once the IRS places a lien it literally gives them the authority to stake a legal claim to your property!  This shows up on your credit reports and will remain on them until the delinquent taxes, interest and penalties are paid in full!  If you attempt to sell any of your assets the IRS Tax Lien ensures that the IRS gets their chunk of that money!

If you continue to do nothing, the next step is an IRS Levy wherein the IRS can actually seize your property, bank accounts etc. to sell and pay off the tax debt.  This is one of the last resorts the IRS will use and can be avoided by communicating with the IRS.

In order to get IRS Tax Lien help you need to know that you do have options.  You can contact the IRS yourself, or (and it is highly recommended) hire a tax professional to assist and represent you.

Your options, however limited include:

  • Set up a Payment Plan with the IRS:  have your tax professional contact the IRS and arrange a monthly payment plan that will allow you to pay off your debt to the IRS
  • Pay off Your Debt in Full:  Your best option is to find a way to pay off your entire delinquent debt immediately!  For some that may require taking out a second mortgage, borrowing from family or friends, or using credit, all of which will have fewer negative repercussions than a tax lien will!
  • Offer in Compromise:  This option really does require the assistance of a tax professional. This is a complicated process and will require that you prove that you are unable to pay the full balance today as well as in the foreseeable future.  Once proven, the IRS may lower your total amount due significantly making it possible for you to have the lien removed.
  • Appeal the Lien:  You are given five business days in which to appeal once a tax lien has been lodged.  You must appeal in writing and you must have a hearing set within 30 days from the 6th day of the lien filing.  If you win the appeal the lien will be removed, however it will still show up on your credit report for up to 10 years.

Don’t allow your situation to get this out of control!  Contact the IRS as quickly as possible when you realize that you will be unable to meet your tax burden.