IRS Tax Lien Release & Withdrawal — Maryland, DC & Virginia

A Notice of Federal Tax Lien is the IRS's legal claim against your property when you have unpaid tax debt. It's different from a levy — a lien doesn't take property, it secures the government's interest in it. But a filed lien is public record, appears on title searches, and can stop a home sale or refinance in its tracks.

Lien vs. levy: A lien is a claim; a levy is a seizure. The IRS typically files a lien before it levies, as a way of securing its position. Resolving the underlying debt is usually what gets a lien released — but there are faster paths in specific situations.

Ways a lien can be resolved:

• Release — happens automatically once the tax debt is paid in full, or can be requested once a bond or other security is posted
• Withdrawal — removes the public notice of the lien entirely, as if it was never filed; available in specific circumstances, including under Fresh Start Program criteria if you're in a Direct Debit Installment Agreement
• Subordination — allows another creditor (like a mortgage lender) to move ahead of the IRS's claim, which can make refinancing possible even with the lien still in place
• Discharge — removes the lien from a specific piece of property so it can be sold, while the lien remains attached to your other assets

Why timing matters: If you're trying to sell or refinance property, the type of relief you need — release, subordination, or discharge — depends on your specific transaction and timeline. We identify the right mechanism early so it doesn't derail a closing.

State tax liens: Maryland, Virginia, and DC can each file their own tax liens independent of the IRS. A Maryland Comptroller lien, a Virginia Department of Taxation lien, and a DC OTR lien all follow different release procedures. We handle federal and state liens together so nothing gets missed during a transaction.