Shannen Doherty -- Dancing with Debt

Shannen Doherty may have tried two-stepping the California taxman, TMZ has learned.

On March 22 just days before Shannen was booted from "Dancing with the Stars," the State of California slapped a $44,064.58 tax lien on the "90210" star.

So far, no comment from her people -- but we're guessing a few more "DWTS" paychecks would have really helped.

UPDATE: Shannen's peeps tell us this was the first she'd heard about the lien and that it would "be taken care of promptly."