It was just three weeks ago that we wrote a blog post about the collecting efforts of the IRS. An audit of the IRS’ collecting efforts found that they weren’t exactly following their own protocols and procedures like they were supposed to, and as a result, they weren’t collecting a massive amount in tax debt.
We bring this up because there is yet another report out about the IRS and their procedures and protocols — but this time, it is in relation to the federal tax agency filing a lien against someone.
There are specific protocols that the IRS needs to follow in the wake of filing a lien so that the person in question can adequately respond to the lien. If these protocols aren’t followed, it can compromise the integrity of the lien because it is a violation of the taxpayer’s rights.
A report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that there have been instances where the IRS has not delivered notification to taxpayers when a lien is being filed against them. There is a five-day window after a lien is filed for the IRS to notify the taxpayer in writing — and there are numerous occasions where this didn’t happen.
A tax lien is a very serious matter that needs to be handled properly — not just by the person who has the lien filed on his or her name, but also by the IRS. A lien carries serious implications and penalties, and anyone dealing with a lien needs to consult an experienced tax attorney so that they can deal with this tax situation.
Source: Accounting Today, “IRS Didn’t Follow Up on Undelivered Tax Liens,” Michael Cohn, Oct. 15, 2014
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