by Mindy Aguon

Guam - A local media company allegedly owes more than a quarter of a million dollars in federal withholding taxes. According to a notice of federal tax lien issued by the Internal Revenue Service, Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting owes more than $290,000 in Social Security for its employees, dating back to 2009.

A copy of the lien has been posted at the Department of Land Management and will remain there until the company makes good on its obligations to the federal government.

Department of Revenue & Taxation director John Camacho said, "A tax lien is basically an attachment to property. It's basically filed to protect the government interest on unpaid taxes generally that's what it is." He added, "Filing at Land Management is very crucial because it attaches to the taxpayers' property and it becomes a notice to the public that, 'Hey, this person in particular owes taxes.'

According to the IRS, a tax lien is only issued after the agency assesses the liability, sends a notice and demand for payment and one was never made. The tax lien, issued in November of last year, gave notice that taxes, including interest and penalties, have been assessed against Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting and the IRS made a demand for payment of the liability but it remains unpaid.

The lien acts as a notice to creditors that the government has a claim to the property that the business owns. The lien indicates that social security had not been paid for four tax periods in 2009, one tax period in 2010 and two tax periods in 2011.

SMG President Rex Sorensen tells KUAM News they are taking care of what they owe to the federal government through a payment plan. When asked why the company failed to pay the Social Security for their employees, Sorensen said he was injured at the time and wasn't at the company to ensure the payments were made. He wouldn't say when the amounts owed to the federal government would be satisfied, saying the payment plan he made with the IRS is private.

KUAM News contacted the IRS for comment, but revenue officer Ralph Fuller, who is handling Sorensen's case, says the agency cannot make any comments about the matter.