A federal tax lien can be considered one of the harshest liens that can be imposed. As one could expect, the federal government does not hold anything back when assessing liens or charges or fines on people or businesses. Federal tax liens can be against real or personal property for which the federal taxes have not been paid. Although it can vary from court to court, there are times when even a misspelling of a name can render a lien useless. For a variety of reasons, when facing a federal tax lien, it is best to have good legal representation. Federal laws and consequences can be strict and unrelenting. The law is the law, however, and even the federal government cannot ignore laws in place to protect citizens. An experienced lawyer will know what to look for in the government's case as well as your circumstances. A federal tax lien can be put against a home, a car, property or any other possession of value. A notice is usually sent out before the lien goes into effect. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You may be able to get the lien lowered or even removed.