Several years ago, a taxpayer came to see me after the IRS filed a federal tax lien against him. One of the first questions he asked was: “Do I go to jail?” He was completely serious. There was no joking or exaggeration. I could see the fear in his eyes.

Over the years, I have learned that many taxpayers know very little about how the IRS collection process actually works. Some do not realize there is a difference between a civil tax matter and a criminal tax case. Others have heard stories from friends, television commercials, or advertisements that leave them believing the worst.

As a result, many people assume that owing money to the IRS means they could be arrested. In many cases, that is simply not true.

Most taxpayers who owe money to the IRS are dealing with a civil tax matter. The IRS may send notices, file a federal tax lien, levy assets, garnish wages, or pursue other collection actions. Those actions can certainly be serious, but they are very different from a criminal prosecution.

Criminal tax cases generally involve allegations of willful misconduct, such as tax evasion, filing fraudulent returns, or other intentional violations of the law. They are not the same as a taxpayer who simply owes money and has fallen behind or cannot afford to pay a tax debt.

When I explained this to the taxpayer, I could see the relief on his face. His tax problem had not disappeared. The tax debt was still there. But he was not facing criminal prosecution. The conversation stayed with me because I have seen similar fears many times over the years. In fact, this was far from the only taxpayer who asked me that question.

Some taxpayers become so worried that they stop opening IRS notices altogether. Others avoid dealing with the problem because they assume there is no solution. In many cases, the fear of what might happen becomes worse than the actual situation.

Unfortunately, avoiding IRS notices rarely improves the problem. Interest and penalties may continue to grow, and collection activity may continue while the taxpayer waits.

The good news is that many IRS collection matters can be addressed once the taxpayer understands the situation and takes action.

If you owe money to the IRS and have been avoiding the notices because you are afraid of what they might contain, you are not alone. Many taxpayers have felt exactly the same way.

The first step is finding out where you stand and understanding what options may be available. Many taxpayers spend months or even years fearing the worst before they finally address the problem. In many cases, the situation is not nearly as frightening as taxpayers imagined.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Every taxpayer’s situation is different and should be evaluated based on its own facts and circumstances.