A notice of federal tax lien gets filed by the IRS when you neglect or fail to pay a tax debt. A federal tax lien is the government’s legal claim against your property. The lien attaches to all of your property including real estate, bank accounts, financial assets, cars, boats, and retirement accounts.
Once the tax lien is filed you won’t be able to sell or refinance your home without paying off the value of the lien. If a lien is filed against your business, the lien attaches to all business property including equipment and accounts receivable. If you want to avoid a tax lien you should not ignore notices or letters from the IRS and should attempt some type of settlement or payment arrangements. If you file for bankruptcy notice of tax lien will usually continue after the bankruptcy.
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What’s the Difference Between a Levy and a Lien?
A tax levy is the legal seizure of your property to satisfy a tax obligation. The distinction between a lien and a levy is that whereas a lien merely claims ownership of your property, a levy actually takes it.
The IRS can levy your wages, bank account, or other property. Remember, levies are different from liens. A tax lien is a claim against your property and may make it difficult to sell or refinance your home. A levy actually seizes and sells your property.
IRS Definition of a Tax Lien:
A federal tax lien also referred to as a “tax debt,” is the government’s legal right to your property when you ignore or fail to pay an outstanding tax obligation. The lien safeguards the government’s interest in all of your assets, including real estate, personal property, and financial assets. After the IRS:
- Assigns your debt to the books (estimates your liability);
- The IRS may also contact you by mail. You will receive a letter in the mail, which explains how much you owe (Notice and Demand for Payment), as well as a bill from the IRS (Letter 3065).
- The IRS generates a public record, the Notice of Federal Tax Lien, to notify creditors that the government has a legal right to their money.
More information about Federal Tax Liens:
If you don’t pay a tax debt that meets lien-filing requirements, the IRS files a tax lien against your property and your rights to it in order to secure the government’s legal right to your property and assets.
A lien filing does not guarantee that the IRS will seize your possessions. It simply ensures that the IRS gets priority rights to your property over other creditors.
A federal tax lien has several negative consequences, including the following:
- It has an impact on your ability to obtain credit.
- It has an impact on your ability to obtain a loan.
- Reduces your capacity to sell or transfer real estate.
The IRS generally tries to collect outstanding taxes before it files a federal tax lien. If you don’t pay, the IRS may file a lien if you don’t respond appropriately. However, the IRS does not have to send numerous notifications before filing a lien, so you could miss the initial correspondence and forget about it. Don’t let this happen to you.
If the IRS files a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, it means that:
- The IRS assessed the tax and sent you a notice and demand for payment, which you ignored;
- You haven’t paid or made arrangements to pay your taxes; and,
- The federal tax lien gives the IRS a legal claim to your property and assets.
The IRS will generally file a tax lien if you owe more than $10,000 and don’t intend to pay all of your taxes within six years. The IRS will almost always file a tax lien if you owe more than $50,000 whether or not you’re in an arrangement to pay.
There are several options to avoid a federal tax lien.
- The first is self-evident: Make full payment to the IRS, as well as any fines and interest.
- The second is to get into an installment agreement before the IRS files a lien.
- The third way to avoid a federal tax lien is to request what’s called a “withdrawal.”
A withdrawal removes the public record of the lien, making it easier for you to obtain credit and loans. The IRS may grant a withdrawal if:
- The debt is paid in full;
- You enter into an installment agreement;
- The statute of limitations on collecting the debt has expired;
- There are other special circumstances.
If the IRS files a lien, it’s important to take action to avoid the negative consequences. Get help from a tax professional if you’re unsure of what to do.
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Frequently Asked Questions
About IRS Tax Relief Solutions (FAQ)
What happens when the IRS puts a lien on you?
The IRS puts a lien on your property when you don’t pay your tax debt.
This protects the government’s interest in your property. If you don’t pay or make arrangements to settle your tax debt, the IRS can levy, seize and sell any type of real or personal property that you own or have an interest in.
The government may also garnish your wages or take money from your bank account to pay your tax debt. You should contact the IRS as soon as possible if you think you might have a tax problem so that you can avoid these collection actions.
How do I check for IRS liens?
If you owe taxes to the IRS and haven’t made other arrangements to pay the debt, it’s worth investigating whether you’re subject to a federal tax lien. You can find out by calling the IRS’s Centralized Lien Unit or assigning your tax advisor permission to call on your behalf.
How long is an IRS tax lien good for?
10 years
IRS Tax Liens: Expiration Without Payment of Tax Debt
At the very least, IRS tax liens endure for 10 years. In most cases, the lien will continue until you either pay your debt in full or the statute of limitations expires.
The 10-year clock on IRS tax liens begins ticking from the date the agency files a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL). The notice is filed after you neglect or refuse to pay your taxes after receiving a Notice and Demand for Payment from the IRS.
If you do not pay your taxes within 10 years, the lien may be extended indefinitely. However, the IRS may release the lien before 10 years if you pay your debt in full or enter into an approved payment plan. You may also request a Certificate of Discharge of Property from Tax Lien, which removes the lien from a specific piece of property.
If the statute of limitations has expired, the IRS may still collect your debt by issuing a levy on your wages or bank account or seizing other assets.
Learn more about how to deal with IRS tax liens.
Does a tax lien show up on your credit report?
No. Tax liens no longer appear on your credit reports since the three major credit bureaus no longer maintain tax lien records. This means that a tax lien will not impact your credit scores or affect your ability to get new credit.
If you have a tax lien, it’s important to take care of it as soon as possible. Not only can the IRS charge you interest on the amount you owe, but they can also seize your assets if you don’t pay. You may also have trouble getting new credit if you have a tax lien since lenders will see it as a sign that you’re not good at managing your finances.
How long does it take the IRS to seize property?
Following public notification, the IRS will generally wait at least 10 days before selling your property. The expense of seizing and selling the property is paid for through the revenue from the sale, which also covers your tax debt. The IRS must follow strict rules and procedures for both the seizure and sale of your property.
If you have questions about the seizure process or believe that your rights have been violated, you should contact a qualified tax professional immediately.
Why does the IRS offer hardship programs?
The IRS has a number of ways to assist taxpayers in financial hardship, such as lowering their tax liability, giving them extra time to pay, or a combination of both. Tax experts are familiar with collaborating with the IRS to find solutions that are beneficial to both the agency and taxpayers.
Do You Qualify For an IRS Hardship Program?
It’s stressful to be audited by the IRS. Learn whether you qualify for an IRS hardship program and how to apply.
If you can’t pay your taxes, the IRS offers several payment options, including a short-term extension and an installment plan. If you qualify for an IRS hardship program, you may be able to get some relief from penalties and interest.
The IRS Fresh Start program is designed to help taxpayers who are having difficulty paying their taxes. Under the program, the IRS may:
- Offer a short-term extension of time to pay
- Set up an installment plan for paying your tax debt
- Waive penalties and interest
To qualify for an IRS hardship program, you must demonstrate that you are unable to pay your taxes and that you have made a good-faith effort to comply with tax laws. The IRS will consider your income, expenses, and assets when determining whether you qualify for a hardship program.
Learn more and get a free consultation from Franskoviak Tax Solution tax experts.
What is another name for an IRS tax lien?
The federal tax lien, often known as the “statutory lien” or “silent lien,” is a legal mechanism that allows the IRS to seize assets and charge taxes. The term lien is sometimes used interchangeably with the filed notice of a lien’s existence (i.e., NFTL).
A public document revealing the tax lien is filed in order to protect the IRS’s interest and to notify other creditors of the taxpayer’s indebtedness. The lien attaches to all property and rights to property, including real estate, personal property, vehicles, accounts receivable, insurance proceeds, successfully sued upon claims, commodities futures contracts, and securities.
How much do you have to owe the IRS before you go to jail?
In general, you will not go to prison if you owe the IRS. Back taxes are a surprisingly prevalent occurrence.
Americans owed over $114 billion in back taxes, penalties, and interest in 2020, according to the most up-to-date statistics from the Internal Revenue Service.
