Clearing a Tax Lien

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I am a long time lurker, but first time poster, so be nice!  I have searched all of the FAQ,s and 101's and cannot seem to get the correct answer.

Here is my situation:

I had a tax lien and with the assistance of a good tax attorney and about $15,000 I had it withdrawn by the IRS.  This is actually fantastic news in itself, but I am having trouble getting to a correct perspn at the CRA's to fax the withdrawal doc to.  I think this is the correct, and quickest way to do it.  The IRS does mail copies of the withdrawal to the County where the record is recorded, then the withdrawal is recorded in the county, then the CRA's if they feel like it update your file!

First, a piece of advice for any of you having financial difficulty.  Dont ignore your taxes!  We have worked our way out of the hole with everything else, but the IRS has been a complete nightmare to get closed, and the tax lien is a devastating blow that is difficult to remedy.  That being said, the original difficulty with the IRS was because of our lack of response.  Had we contacted them, and tried to see what they could do to help initially instead of ignoring them (they wont go away!), I feel like we would be in a lot better situation today.  In general everyone I have spoken with or worked with there has been very cordial. 

What I am asking the Forum for is:

I have a very cool tax lien withdrawal form from the IRS.  I need to get the Tax Lien removed from my credit ASAP.   What is my best path?  I have contacted the CRA's and can only seem to reach non-english speakers who dont even know what the heck I am talking about when I want to do anything but mail this over for clearance.

The reward for the forum will be to know, once corrected and removed, the difference the tax lien makes on all of my scores.  My FICO scores as of today are:

EXP - 638

EQ - 608

TU - 622

Anyone want to take guesses at the jump, if any?

Thanks in advance for contact numbers, advice, etc.

[Anonymous]

Written dispute faxed to them - they have 30 days to 'investigate' and correct

Fax numbers:

Equifax = 866.233.3777
Experian = 972.390.3838
Trans Union = 610.546.4606

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick reply Lady Scarlet!  I drafted my letter and tried to fax to the Equifax number and got a "no longer in service" message.  I dialed 866-233-3777.  Maybe they changed it a number in India!

Any other number for them?

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested to see what score raise you get as well...

I know for my state liens dropping offI I got about 5 points....pretty pathetic I was hoping for something major lol!

Congratulations though and hope its a big jump  : )

[Anonymous]

try     EQ 866-838-1016

[Anonymous]

Hi CRASMAKEMEPUKE,

I have a question for you.  I have a State Tax Lien that I plan to pay off tomorrow.  I was wondering how you got them to drop off.  Did the just drop off after the seven years or so or did you take another approach? 

If anyone else has some success stories, please feel free to share your experiences and comments. 

Thanks in advance!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info everyone.  I got fax #s to work.  Actually found another fax # posted for Equifax of 404-885-8988 that went through.  If not already created, maybe the mods can put up a sticky or head thread that is just for updated contact info for disputes/investigation contacts.  It looks like it would save some posts for you more experienced types.

I really appreciate all of your help and will let you know how it goes!  I am assuming it will have to gothrough one full month, and since I am so close to EOM, it wont be until April that these take effect.  Any others with different opinions?

In reference to tax lien "falling off", it seems like it is a 10 year deal, that can be re-assigned if not paid, even for state.  If you pay it, I would try to negotiate a "withdrawal", not just a "release".  They are two very different things.  The release will stay on your credit, but say it is satisfied, the withdrawal removes it completely.  Tough to get, but if you can, do it.

Good luck, and I will let you all know my jump (if any).  I hope to get more then 5 measly points!

Tx,

OTR800

[braznyc]

Here is what I've been told by EXP supervisor and an EQ rep when I inquired about the "fall off" dates for my paid state tax liens, EXP is dropping mines off in 7 years which will be next year and 2010. EQ is actually dropping off 1 of them because they had the wrong file date, it was 2001, and they had 2002, so it's gone. I got that notice today whooohooo! I got the feeling that Federal taxes stay for 10 years, the EXP rep "claimed" it's the tax folks who update the info and keep it on longer.

I dunno about that, because I went down to the court house and they "claimed" it's the CRA. I thought I'd have to have them on for another 7 years, because I paid them all in December, but not according to my reports with EQ and EXP I printed them just to be sure they actually had "fall off" dates. I haven't attempted to contact TU on the matter. I figured EXP would be the one I had to be most concerned with for now. The EQ chat was purely by chance since I am disputing other things with them.

I'm always nervous with the tax lien issue, because one I don't want them to stay on for another 7 years, two it seems to be hit or miss to get them removed, from all the research I've done.

I definitely can't wait to hear about your progress @ OP.

Message Edited by braznyc on 02-27-2008 10:48 AM

[Anonymous]

Hi there, sadly I had to wait for mine to fall off.. : (

Actually Equifax still has it on there even though the other cra's removed it..

Equifax say's its 7 years from the date released so I have a few more months to go with them..no idea why the others came off earlier (it had been filed 02/2001) and they just came off one in Jan one this month. I need to check the release date if I can find it

  : )

[braznyc]

See that's what I mean @CMMP, all the CRA seem to have different rules as to when they fall off, and from what time. I know what's printed for general Q&A, but what actually happens seems to be something entirely different. Now the one that came-off for wasn't showing as paid on my CR, although it was, so I was sure I'd be stuck with it for another 7 years, once I got them to correct the paid part, but it came off. I hope it doesn't show back up.