No. 10Practice area III · Collections & Enforcement
Tax Lien & Levy Resolution

Liens and levies, handled with urgency.

A tax lien can block a sale or a loan, and a levy can empty an account or take property. We act fast to protect what is at risk, resolve the balance, and clear the public record where the rules allow.

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Form 12277Bank levy responseEnrolled Agent led
What a federal tax lien reaches Illustration of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien attaching to a home, bank accounts, vehicles, and business assets, with the four ways to remove or limit it: release, withdrawal, discharge, and subordination. Illustration What a lien reaches Form 668(Y) HomeBank accountsVehiclesBusiness assets Ways to remove or limit it ReleaseWithdrawalDischargeSubordination

Illustration only. What a lien reaches and which options apply depend on your situation, and the IRS makes the final decision.

Who it is for

Is this you?

Liens and levies call for quick action. Reach out if any of these sound familiar.

A lien notice was filed

You received notice that a Notice of Federal Tax Lien was filed against you.

Your bank account was frozen

The bank told you the IRS levied your account, and the funds are on hold.

A sale or refinance is stuck

A title search found a federal tax lien, and the closing cannot move forward.

Business assets at risk

The IRS has contacted your customers, or your receivables and equipment are exposed.

Two different tools

A claim and a seizure.

A lien and a levy are often mentioned together, but they work very differently. Knowing which one you face decides what to do first.

Lien

A claim
vs

Levy

A seizure
A legal claim against all your property
What it is
A legal seizure of your property
Automatically, once a balance is assessed, billed, and left unpaid
When it starts
After a Final Notice of Intent to Levy, sent at least 30 days before
A Notice of Federal Tax Lien can be filed in public records to alert creditors
Who sees it
It is served on whoever holds your property, such as your bank or employer
A notice of your right to a Collection Due Process hearing, within 5 business days of the filing
Your rights
A Collection Due Process hearing, requested by the date on the levy notice
Release, withdrawal, discharge, or subordination
How it ends
Release, and in some cases a return of what was taken

States file their own tax liens and levies, with their own rules. We handle state cases too.

Removing a lien

Four ways to loosen the hold.

A lien does not have to stand in the way forever. Depending on where you are, one of four tools can end it, hide it from the public record, or move it out of the way.

  • Paying in full leads to a release within 30 days.
  • A direct debit payment plan on $25,000 or less may qualify for withdrawal after three consecutive payments.
  • A sale or refinance may move forward with a discharge or a subordination.
  • A withdrawal can also be requested when a notice was filed too early or not by the rules.
The lien toolkitForms at a glance
ReleaseEnds the lien once the balance is paid, or the collection period endsWithin 30 days of payment
WithdrawalRemoves the public notice, as if it had not been filedForm 12277
DischargeRemoves the lien from one specific property, such as a home being soldForm 14135
SubordinationLets another creditor go first, such as a lender on a refinanceForm 14134
Bank levy: the 21 day window

When a bank account is levied, the bank holds the funds for 21 days before sending them to the IRS. That is the time to act. Deposits made after the levy date are normally not affected.

The process

From notice to a clear record.

Five steps, with one point of contact the whole way through.

  1. 1

    Fast case review

    We look at the lien or levy notice, the dates, and what is at risk to see how quickly we need to act.

  2. 2

    Power of attorney and transcripts

    With Form 2848 on file, we confirm every lien filed, levy issued, balance, and deadline.

  3. 3

    Protect what is at risk

    We request a hearing while the window is open and contact the IRS during the bank levy hold period.

  4. 4

    Resolve the balance

    A payment plan, hardship status, or an offer. We build the option that fits your finances.

  5. 5

    Clear the record

    We request the release, withdrawal, discharge, or subordination that your situation allows.

Good to know

What to know right now.

A few facts that matter the most when a lien or levy is in play.

Twenty one days for a bank levy

The bank holds levied funds for 21 days before sending them. That window is the best time to act.

A lien reaches new property too

Once filed, the lien attaches to all your property, including property you acquire later.

Released is not the same as withdrawn

A release ends the lien, but the notice can stay in public records. A withdrawal removes the notice itself.

Our role

What we do for you.

An Enrolled Agent leads your case, with the same person handling it from the first call to the final result.

We move quickly

Levy deadlines are short. We reach the IRS as soon as your power of attorney is on file.

Every form, done right

Withdrawal, discharge, and subordination requests each need specific documentation. We prepare them in full.

Coordination on closings

When a sale or refinance is waiting, we work with your lender or title company on what the IRS needs.

State cases too

If a state tax agency filed a lien or levied an account, we work with that agency as well.

Questions

About liens and levies.

The questions we hear most. Anything else, ask us during your free case review.

What is the difference between a lien and a levy?

A lien is a legal claim against your property that secures the tax debt. A levy is the actual seizure of property, such as funds in a bank account or wages.

Can I sell my house if there is a tax lien?

Often, yes. A certificate of discharge, requested on Form 14135, can remove the lien from that property so the sale can move forward. The IRS reviews how its interest in the property is handled.

Will paying the balance clear my record?

Paying in full leads to a release within 30 days. The public notice can still appear in records, so we can also request a withdrawal once the requirements are met.

What happens to money deposited after a bank levy?

A bank levy normally applies to the funds in the account on the day it is received. Deposits made after that date are generally not affected by that levy.

Often paired with

Resolving the balance.

Clearing a lien or levy usually starts with a plan for what is owed. These services build it.

Related service

Installment Agreements & Payment Plans

Structured monthly plans negotiated with the IRS or the state.

View serviceRelated service

Offer in Compromise

Settle eligible tax debt for less than the full amount owed.

View serviceRelated service

Wage Garnishment Release

Working to stop or reduce an active wage garnishment.

View service
All services

A lien or levy on your account? Let us act now.

Send us the notice or the bank letter. The first case review is free and confidential.

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