A federal tax lien is the government's legal claim against your property when you neglect or fail to pay a tax debt. You must submit lien payoff inquiries in writing.Locate the closest Taxpayer Assistance Center to you. If you're worried about how to get out of debt, here are some things to know — and how to find legitimate help. Internal Revenue Service. An updated lien payoff or balance due amount may be requested from the Lien Processing Unit. On behalf of the Tulane Law Clinic, I write to request all records that show or relate to.