How do I appeal a tax lien with the federal government?

If you have a tax lien on your house due to owing federal back taxes, you should get notice of it in writing within five days. If you wish to appeal the lien, you can request that your case be reviewed, or you can ask for a Collection Due Process hearing to go over the details of your case. Either way, hiring a lawyer first is often the best way to get started appealing the tax lien.

Reasons to Appeal a Tax Lien

There may be several reasons that you are appealing the tax lien. One of the reasons to appeal is that it was filed after you declared bankruptcy, as the automatic stay that comes along with this process should protect you from creditors trying to collect. This includes the federal government, which is why if they filed a tax lien during this time, you can usually fight it. If you have already paid off the balance but still got a lien, you can appeal it. All you need is evidence that you paid the total, and that the IRS indeed received it before filing. This is not the only mistake that the IRS may make that allows you to appeal, as you can also fight the lien if the assessment is incorrect. In some cases, the IRS may file a tax lien after a statute of limitations has expired, which means that they cannot collect. Additionally, if you have shown interest in discussing payment options, or simply did not get a chance to dispute your liability, you may be able to fight it. While these reasons for fighting a tax lien are all quite clear cut, it may be difficult to find evidence to support your case on your own, so get a lawyer before starting proceedings.