| According to Experian, one of the credit reporting | | | | the property. If the property is going to auction, the |
| agencies, a tax lien is a claim by a taxing authority on | | | | county websites also list upcoming sales and the |
| an asset owned by someone who owes back taxes. | | | | procedures for paying off your own lien or buying tax |
| For a business, it is may be on a commercial property | | | | lines. |
| the business owns, possibly the property where the | | | | Review the lists. Once you pull up the tax lien for the |
| business operates. The two major taxing authorities | | | | property you're interested in, the website provides |
| include the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for business | | | | various information on the lien. Typically, it lists the |
| back taxes the business owes to the federal | | | | amount, date and payoff instructions for it. |
| government and the county where the property is | | | | Tips |
| located. Whether it is a federal or county tax lien, the | | | | If the county where the property is located does not |
| lien shows on the property records, which the county | | | | have a website or does not allow online searches for |
| clerk's office where the property is records on the | | | | tax lines, you have to go in person to look up the tax |
| public records. Whether you're looking up, it is your own | | | | lien. Look up the address for the county clerk's office, |
| property to pay it off or you're an investor looking to | | | | note the hours of operation and then go in person to |
| invest in this, your computer is the main tool you need | | | | obtain the tax lien information. |
| to look up a tax line. | | | | Some counties provide tax lien information by phone, |
| Find the county website. Use the National Association | | | | but if you want a copy of the tax lien information, there |
| of Counties website to determine if the county where | | | | is usually a charge. |
| the property is located has a website. | | | | Some websites sell lists, which is another way to look |
| Search the county website. Once you determine if the | | | | up tax liens. Before you pay a third party to obtain a |
| county is online, go to the county website and conduct | | | | tax lien list, conduct some research on the business |
| a search. You can typically search for liens on the | | | | with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, |
| property using the parcel number, address or owner of | | | | to make sure that the website is legitimate. |