What a lien does (and doesn't do)
A Notice of Federal Tax Lien is the government's public claim against your property to secure a tax debt. It doesn't take anything by itself — but it clouds title, complicates escrow and refinancing, and signals lenders. California's FTB records its own liens with similar effect.
Selling or refinancing with a lien is often still possible
The IRS routinely works with real-estate transactions: a lien can be paid from escrow, discharged from the specific property being sold, or subordinated so a lender takes first position on a refinance. Realtors and escrow officers in the Valley send us exactly these cases — timing and paperwork are everything.
Getting the lien released or withdrawn
Liens release when the debt is resolved — full payment, or acceptance into certain arrangements. In qualifying cases (including some direct-debit installment agreements), the IRS can withdraw the notice entirely. Which path fits depends on your balance, assets, and the resolution underneath.
What we do
Free review of the lien notice and the debt behind it. We map the options — discharge, subordination, withdrawal, or resolution-and-release — and handle the applications and the agency. If an escrow is waiting, tell us the closing date and we work backwards from it. Hablamos español.
Common questions
Can I sell my house with an IRS lien on it?
Usually yes — commonly the lien is paid from escrow proceeds, or a discharge is obtained for the property. It takes lead time, so involve someone the moment the lien surfaces in a title search.
Does a tax lien show on my credit report?
The major bureaus stopped including tax liens in credit reports in 2018, but liens remain public record — lenders, landlords, and title companies still find them.
What's the difference between a lien and a levy?
A lien is a claim securing the debt; a levy is the actual taking of money or property. A lien says 'we're owed'; a levy says 'we're collecting.' Both have their own fixes.
This page is general information, not tax advice for your specific situation — that’s what the free review is for. We never promise specific outcomes; options depend on your facts.