A lien is a legal claim that may affect the property records or the money due at closing. A payoff is the current amount and instructions from the creditor or tax office to settle an obligation. An older bill or record can help identify the issue, but it is not necessarily the current payoff amount.
You don't need to pay off your back taxes before we settle. We buy houses with back taxes and liens — payoffs get handled through the closing, not by you upfront.
The title company checks ownership and the records that affect the sale. The office or creditor holding a claim confirms its current amount and payment or release instructions. Agreed payoffs appear in the closing figures and are handled through closing under the written terms. If confirmed amounts exceed the sale proceeds, any arrangement needed must be addressed with the responsible creditor or office for this transaction.