Written by: Rayanne Morris
You’ve got a tax lien looming over your family, and there doesn’t seem like there’s much you can do about it. These liens can limit your financial options in many ways, which you don’t want for your family, but the following options may help your family get back on track.
Pay Off the Debt
The easiest way to get this tax lien removed is to pay off the debt. This one seems a little obvious, but it’s also the most challenging way of dealing with your lien because you have to come up with the money. If you try this, know that you’re expected to pay the entire amount. You’ll have to borrow cash from friends or family members or practice extreme savings to deal with what you owe the government.
Once the debt is paid, you can expect to see the lien withdrawn, but it’s going to take a month for that to happen. Still, it’s a good idea to monitor the lien to make sure the lien is removed as it should be.
Subordinate Lien Placement
The next thing you may want to consider if you want an IRS tax lien removal is to subordinate the lien. Every single asset you own is given a placement. If nothing works out on your end, then the government is going to go after the asset that’s first in line. So, if this asset happens to be your home, then that’s what the IRS is going to take unless you mess around with the placement of your assets.
You will have to work with a consultant so that he or she can help you talk to the IRS about moving your assets into another place in line if you want to keep this asset. Another asset will have to take its place, but this does give you more time. You will have to pay the interest rate the IRS is giving up to move this precious asset from its place.
Get it Discharged
You can try to discharge the lien. This is one way to remove a federal tax lien from the stuff you own, and you won’t have to go through the subordination process. Doing this isn’t going to be easy. You are going to have to figure out a way to pay the IRS the amount of the asset.
You could also use another asset to pay off the asset you’re most concerned about if you can prove it is worth more. In essence, you are going to work hard to convince the IRS you own something that’s worth enough to cover the asset you want to keep safe. This won’t be easy because the government wants to make sure they’ll be able to extract what you owe from your assets.
The Debit Installment Option
Some folks try to get into a Direct Debit Installment Agreement with the IRS, which is sometimes referred to as DDIA. You can get one of these agreements even if you don’t have a lien, but it can be helpful if you have one. When you enter into one of these agreements, the IRS is willing to listen to you regarding any liens on your assets. No one is saying the IRS will agree to your proposal, but it’s likely. You have to make sure that what you owe is under $25,000. If you aren’t there yet, then make sure you get there before you make this request. The reason the IRS loves this agreement is that paying them won’t depend on you remembering to send the check. They’ll take their payment directly from your debit card.
You are going to have to make sure you make three payments through this method without missing one payment. If you can do this, the chances are high that you’ll get a lien removed, allowing you and your family to breathe easier.
Conclusion
Sometimes, liens are given without proper notice. If you believe this is happening to you, then a lawyer should be able to help challenge a lien, but this is going to require some patience and the help of a fantastic lawyer. Hopefully, you can remove these liens in whatever way you can.
