Understanding Tax Liens, Penalties and Interest For Back Tax Debt Owed to the IRS and/or State Taxing Authorities | Where the Rubber Meets the Road
"Why was a tax lien filed?" or "Can you abate the penalties?" are the two most common concerns I hear from potential clients. While others (sales people) have no problem telling you that they will remove the tax lien and get rid of the penalties I will attempt to explain to you where the rubber meets the road. If you owe the IRS more than $25,000 there is going to be a tax lien filed, period. You can appeal the initial notice of federal tax lien but that doesn't prevent it from being filed. It can be withdrawn if you are successful in appeals. If you owe more than the threshold amount of $25K good luck with that. The IRS takes the position if you did the crime you must do the time. That time is in the form of both the filing of a tax lien as well as penalties and interest. While abating penalties is much more likely than releasing a tax lien if you owe more than $25,000, it certainly is not a given. You must demonstrate reasonable cause existed