How do I get a federal tax lien removed from my property?

There are four main ways to remove a federal tax lien. First, pay the debt in full. The IRS must release the lien within 30 days of full payment. Second, request a lien withdrawal using Form 12277. The IRS may withdraw a lien if you enter a Direct Debit Installment Agreement and owe $25,000 or less, or if the lien was filed prematurely or not in accordance with IRS procedures. Withdrawal is better than release because it removes the filing entirely as if it never happened. Third, request a lien discharge for specific property (Form 14135) when you need to sell or refinance a particular asset. The IRS may discharge the lien from that property if the sale proceeds will be used to pay the tax debt or if the IRS interest is not affected. Fourth, request lien subordination (Form 14134) to allow another creditor to move ahead of the IRS, which is common when refinancing a mortgage at a lower rate that enables you to pay the tax debt faster. Each method has specific requirements and processing times of 30-90 days.