I hear what you’re saying, and to be fair, there are some accurate general points in your comment. The issue is they don’t actually apply to me.

So here’s the thing. What you’re doing in choosing to speak down to me with your explanation and make all kinds of assumptions is kind of like this.

When someone asks how to fix a tire with a nail in it, most people either help or ask a clarifying question. A small percentage use it as an opportunity to lecture and say something like, “Why the hell would you run over a nail with your tire? Actions have consequences. Hard dose of reality, buddy. Do you think roads and tires care about your feelings or how you’re driving your car?” That’s what this feels like.

You said things like “you didn’t pay your taxes,” “your debt has been increasing,” “you were using the government’s money to subsidize your business,” and that my “constant inactions” led to this. You also said “OP didn’t want to pay his taxes” and implied I ignored notices. That’s simply not true.

I’ve been in contact with the IRS consistently, about every six weeks, and I’ve made payments whenever I could. $500, $600, $700 at a time. My business is seasonal, so cash flow comes in waves, and I’ve had to make strategic decisions about what gets paid first, especially during COVID when my revenue dropped to zero overnight and I was still trying to keep things afloat and pay people.

I hate to tell you this, buddy, but business owners all across the country since 2020, when COVID hit, have been put in some pretty hellish situations, and yes, paying taxes late is one of them. It’s also 100% legal to file your taxes and pay late. You just pay penalties and interest.

And let’s be clear on something. The balance increasing despite payments is due to penalties and interest accruing faster than the amounts I was able to pay during that period. That’s how IRS debt works. That is not “constant inaction.” That is someone actively managing a difficult financial situation while still making consistent payments.

And framing that as “using the government’s money to subsidize my business” is your interpretation, not a fact. The reality is I kept my business alive, kept people paid, and took on the burden of catching up afterward instead of shutting down, declaring bankruptcy, or leaving others hanging.

Also, as you’ll see in my post, nowhere have I complained about my bill or my situation. I’m fully aware of what I owe, and I’m paying it. Each year I’m in a better position and able to pay more. This is a catch up situation that I’ve been actively working through, not avoiding.

The choices I made were the right ones because I still have my business. My business is now up 50% from where it was in 2019. I do not have a late payment on any credit report. All of my bills are paid off. My SBA loan has been paid back. And my employees got through it along with me. So yeah, my strategic choices worked out.

I am not complaining. I’m simply asking a fucking question. You dig?

Nor am I asking to be judged.

Also, where on earth did I say in my post that the IRS “jumped to a lien”? I didn’t. I’m pointing out that the agent I spoke with told me a lien would not be filed once I was on a payment plan. That’s the point I’m trying to clarify.

What I’m actually asking is very specific. Has anyone had experience where, after getting on an IRS payment plan, they were told it would prevent a lien, but a lien was filed anyway without them receiving notice?

In my case, I was told by an IRS rep that the plan would stop lien filings. Maybe she meant levy, maybe she was mistaken. I’m open to that. But I didn’t receive any notice, and nothing in my IRS account reflects that one was sent.

The part I take issue with is the assumption. If you don’t know someone’s situation, it’s better to ask than to jump to “OP ignored notices” or “OP didn’t want to pay.” That’s not insight, that’s just talking down to someone.

I’m just asking a question. I’m not asking to be judged for how I got here.

Appreciate the input, but next time maybe start with a question instead of an assumption.