Are tax liens a matter of public record? If so, why? The answer is, yes, a tax lien, such as a notice of federal tax lien filed by the Internal Revenue Service is made public. The reasoning is the same as to why certain debts are made a matter of public record as it provides notice to other creditors that a lien exists, as well as notice to the buyer. A creditor or buyer must be able to access such information to determine whether to lend money to a debtor or take the proper steps to ensure clean title to an asset is received. The video below has been prepared by John McGuire, a tax attorney at The McGuire Law Firm. The McGuire Law Firm has law offices in Golden, Colorado and Denver, Colorado. Please contact the firm to speak with a tax attorney.