IRS tax relief
Federal Tax Lien
A federal tax lien attaches to everything you own and everything you acquire while it is in place. It is not money leaving your account. It is a claim that follows your property.
You are probably here because
- A Notice of Federal Tax Lien was filed in your county
- A sale or refinance fell through because of it
- Your title company or lender flagged it
- You started getting mail from lien-resolution companies
What this actually means
The lien is the government securing its position, and it reaches real estate, vehicles, business assets and receivables, including things you buy after it is filed.
It is a matter of public record, which is how the lien-resolution mailers found you. In practice its sharpest effect is that you cannot sell or refinance cleanly until it is dealt with.
A lien is not the same as a levy. A lien is a claim; a levy is a seizure. Having a lien filed does not by itself mean anything is about to be taken.
What can be done
Withdrawal
Removes the notice from public record as if it had never been filed. Available in defined circumstances, including entering a direct debit installment agreement.
Discharge
Removes the lien from one specific piece of property so a sale can close, often the answer when a house is under contract.
Subordination
Does not remove the lien, but moves the IRS behind another creditor so a refinance can go through. Frequently the key to a workable payment plan.
Release
Happens once the liability is satisfied, settled through an accepted offer, or the collection period expires.
How fast
Lien work runs on the IRS timetable, so give it weeks rather than days. If you have a closing date, tell us at the first call. Discharge and subordination requests can be worked around a real deadline, but only with notice.
Common questions
Does this wreck my credit score?+
The major credit bureaus stopped including tax liens in consumer credit reports. That does not make it harmless: lenders, title companies and underwriters still find it in the public record.
Can I sell my house with a lien on it?+
Often yes, through a discharge or by paying the lien from the proceeds at closing. It needs to be arranged in advance, not discovered in escrow.
Will paying it off remove the record?+
Paying gets you a release, which shows the debt satisfied. Getting the notice withdrawn, removed as though never filed, is a separate request worth making.
Every case turns on its own facts, and outcomes depend on your finances and the discretion of the taxing authority. Nothing here is a promise of a particular result.
Let’s talk
Ready to work with a CPA who actually explains it?
Start with a free 30-minute intro call. Bring your questions, your notices, or just a rough idea of what you need. You will leave the call knowing exactly what the next step is and what it costs.