Several years ago the IRS was taken to task by Congress over reports about customer abuse. To their credit Congress managed to reign in the IRS somewhat and caused them to adopt a more user-friendly system along with a new attitude.
If you do have a Federal Tax Lien filed against you then your options for financing anything are nearly impossible. Forget the new car, much less the home you're thinking of buying in Florida. The government wants their money....period. However, the IRS did release a paper that identifies four reasons whereby a tax lien can be removed from public records. This includes public records like credit reports. This does not mean you no longer owe the money. It simply means you are free to go and purchase a new home without the tax lein working against you.
Now the four reasons for having a tax lien removed are:
1. If, by releasing the tax lien, this would enable the taxpayer the ability to borrow money for his or her business. This would increase the government's chances of collecting because the business would most likely succeed with an influx of fresh capital.
2. If by releasing the tax lien, this would enable the taxpayer to settle with the IRS for a lesser amount.
3. Administrative or premature procedures. This happens when a field officer in their haste to record a lien does so prior to having their superior approve the lien.
4. When removing the lien is in the best interests of the United States and its taxpayers.
Now that you know this you don't have to feel so intimidated when dealing with the IRS.