Eric Stewart had some troubles with his income taxes:

Fourth Congressional District Democratic hopeful Eric Stewart was slapped with federal tax liens totaling $24,678.81 in 2002 and 2011 for not paying his federal personal and business taxes on time, records show.

Stewart resolved a 2002 IRS lien of $9,541.09 on his 2000 and 2001 personal taxes on March 21, 2003, according to an IRS release filed with the Franklin County Register of Deeds.

But the 2011 IRS lien remains on the books, records show. It involves $15,227.72 owed by Stewart and the insurance agency he owned on a matter involving payroll taxes for various quarters in tax years 2001-2003 and 2006.

Stewart, a state senator from Winchester elected in 2008, said in an interview Friday that he reached a settlement with the IRS and is making payments to satisfy his obligations.

"I fell on tough times and I fell behind," Stewart said when asked what happened. "I pay monthly based on my installment agreement. In accordance with the agreement, we're working to fully resolve the obligations."