Tax Lien, Levy & Garnishment
Appeals and Removal

What Is a Federal Tax Lien?

If you owe the Internal Revenue Service back taxes and have made no effort to pay your debt, the IRS can file a federal tax lien against your real or personal property.  An IRS tax attorney can provide you with the details, but in short:  a lien establishes the right of the federal government to seize and sell your assets in the event that you cannot or will not pay your tax liability.  The IRS will usually seek alternative methods of collection before filing a lien. 

One of the IRS' motivations for filing a lien is to protect the federal government’s interest against other potential creditors.  In other words:  the IRS uses liens to ensure that their ability to collect takes precedence over everyone else's.  If you have unfiled tax returns or have received notice from the IRS that they are filing a lien against your assets, you should seek back tax help from a tax relief attorney, such as Kenneth Sheppard, immediately.

Tax Lien vs. Tax Levy
Whereas a tax lien is a claim that the Internal Revenue Service uses to secure payment of a tax debt, a tax levy actually takes property or wages to satisfy that debt.  A lien essentially lays the groundwork for a levy, which is why an IRS debt attorney will advise you to take immediate action if you receive notice of a lien.

Should the IRS escalate their efforts to collect on your debt, the following are examples of assets that may be seized:

Wage Garnishment

A wage garnishment (or wage levy, as it is also called) forces your employer to withhold part of your paycheck and turn that amount over to the federal government for the purpose of paying off your tax debt.  Wage garnishments are continuous in nature, which means they last until your tax debt is satisfied, you lose or quit your job, or you reach a negotiated agreement with the IRS.

Appealing a Tax Levy

It is possible to successfully appeal a tax levy under certain circumstances.  At Sheppard Law Offices, we have helped many of our clients appeal tax levies through requesting Collection Due Process hearings with the Office of Appeals.  Here are some of the grounds upon which we can help you win an appeal of your tax levy:

Contact the Sheppard Law Offices today at 1-877-505-9455 to receive a free consultation regarding your IRS tax lien, tax levy, or wage garnishment.