EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Free Tutorials
  • Certification Courses
  • 250+ Courses All in One Bundle
  • Login

Tax Lien

Home » Finance » Blog » Accounting Fundamentals » Tax Lien

Tax Lien

Definition of Tax Lien

Tax lien refers to the imposing of a legal claim on a property or any asset of any person being an individual or a business under the operations of law to recover the taxes due to the government. The tax lien serves as a guarantee for the revenue department that the proceeds from the sale of such assets flow to the government first towards the tax dues when the assets under lien are sold if the person fails to pay the demanded tax payment.

Explanation

If federal or state taxes are unpaid, the respective government can impose a lien on the assets of the person in default to secure the payment of the taxes due. By imposing such a lien, the government doesn’t sell the asset of the person; instead, ensures that if the assets of the person are sold or transferred in any manner then the first claim over such assets lie in the favor of the government before any other party.

Start Your Free Investment Banking Course

Download Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others

A tax lien can be imposed when federal or state taxes are unpaid by a person. Suppose a person has not paid property tax on the property then the government might impose a tax lien on the property. Similarly, a tax lien can also be imposed when income taxes are not paid even after the order for outstanding tax demand is issued to the taxpayer. The lien on the assets will continue for as long as the tax dues are outstanding.

How Does it Work?

The government will issue a demand notice to the defaulter stating the amount of tax due from such a defaulter. The notice will prescribe a time limit within which the person can pay the amount or contact the department for resolving the issue in case there is any discrepancy in the notice.

If the person fails to either pay the amount or resolve the matter, then the concerned government department gets a right to impose a tax lien on the assets of the person under default. The assets may include all personal assets of the taxpayer such as property, vehicles, securities, jewelry, and so on. In case the taxpayer is a business organization, the business assets will be subject to the tax lien. A lien imposed by the federal government will supersede the claims of any other party over the assets of the taxpayer. Any realization made on the assets will first go towards the government. Further, the taxpayer can’t sell or otherwise transfer the assets under lien.

When the lien is imposed, the fact of the same appears in the credit report of the taxpayer affecting the score adversely. The only way by which the lien can be removed is by paying the taxes due along with other charges that may apply.

Popular Course in this category
Finance for Non Finance Managers Course (7 Courses)7 Online Courses | 25+ Hours | Verifiable Certificate of Completion | Lifetime Access
4.5 (5,627 ratings)
Course Price

View Course

Related Courses
Cost Accounting Course (5 Courses)US GAAP Course (29 Courses with 2020 Updated)

Example of Tax Lien

Let us take two situations where tax lien can be imposed.

  • A property owner is facing a financial crisis and is unable to pay dues of property taxes applicable to the property. The local government can impose a tax lien on the property on which the property tax is remaining unpaid.
  • A taxpayer doesn’t pay the income taxes for two consecutive tax years. The IRS sent a demand notice for the recovery of the income taxes. However, the taxpayer didn’t respond to the notice as well. The IRS may impose tax lien in such a case of the assets belonging to the taxpayer.

Impact of Tax Lien

The main impacts of tax liens are discussed below:

  • The credit score drops since the fact of tax lien is recorded in credit reports of the taxpayers. Thus, there can be difficulty in getting credits.
  • Even the assets that are purchased after the tax lien is imposed are subject to the tax lien.
  • The personal assets and the business assets become subject to lien restrictions and the same can’t be realized.
  • If the person files a bankruptcy petition, even then the tax lien continues to remain in effect which means that the person will still be responsible for the dues even when adjudicated insolvent.
  • When the situation of tax lien remains unresolved, it may put a person at risk of facing serious criminal charges.

Advantages of Tax Lien

A tax lien is an advantageous tool for the federal and state governments due to the following reasons:

  • The government gets a guarantee for the realization of tax payment by attaching the assets of the taxpayer.
  • Once the tax lien is imposed, the taxpayer can’t realize the assets by selling or otherwise transferring them.
  • A tax lien is disclosed in credit reports of taxpayers and thus, also alerts the lenders about the financial position of the taxpayer.

Disadvantages of Tax Lien

The imposition of a tax lien is an adverse situation for the taxpayers due to the following reasons:

  • The credit score of the taxpayer gets deteriorated due to which the taxpayer faces difficulty in securing credit.
  • The taxpayer is unable to realize the assets without the consent of the department.
  • Even if the person files for bankruptcy the liability doesn’t get affected.
  • Tax liens bring bad image towards a person and the person may face discrimination in jobs as well.

Conclusion

To avoid tax liens, people must ensure that they meet their tax liabilities on time. Further, if you receive any tax demand notice, you must not ignore it otherwise you might land in serious problems. If you have received a notice for the tax lien, the only way you will be able to get out of it is by depositing the requisite tax with the applicable interest and penalty with the government.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to Tax Lien. Here we also discuss the definition and how does tax lien work? along with advantages and disadvantages. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

  1. Income Tax Accounting
  2. Deferred Tax
  3. Deferred Income Tax
  4. Tax Sale

All in One Financial Analyst Bundle (250+ Courses, 40+ Projects)

250+ Online Courses

40+ Projects

1000+ Hours

Verifiable Certificates

Lifetime Access

Learn More

0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Primary Sidebar
Finance Blog
  • Accounting fundamentals
    • Direct vs Indirect Cash Flow Methods
    • Salvage Value
    • Balance Sheet Analysis
    • Current Liabilities Examples
    • Debtor
    • Other Comprehensive Income
    • Period Costs
    • Inventories List
    • Marketable Securities in Balance Sheet
    • Gross Sales
    • Tax Haven
    • Interim Reporting
    • Date of Record of Dividends
    • Short Term Assets
    • Revenue Streams
    • Tax Planning
    • Accounts Receivable Journal Entry
    • Book Profit
    • Capital Budgeting Importance
    • Accounts Payable Cycle
    • Inventory Audit
    • Estimated Tax
    • Dividend Declared
    • SG & A Expenses
    • Tax Lien
    • Excise Tax Examples
    • Accelerated Share Repurchase
    • Accounting Ethics
    • Accounts Payable Credit or Debit
    • Accounting for Fair Value Hedges
    • Long Term Debt in Balance Sheet
    • Assets Example
    • Audit Assertions
    • Accounts Receivable Process
    • List of Operating Expenses
    • Income Tax Accounting
    • Non-Operating Expenses
    • Unrealized Gains and Loses
    • Warranty Expense
    • What is Budgeting?
    • WIP Inventory
    • Current Liabilities
    • Zero Based Budgeting
    • Types of Liabilities on Balance Sheet
    • Marginal Costing vs Absorption Costing
    • Non-Current Liabilities Examples
    • Cash Equivalents
    • Types of Assets
    • Assets List
    • Deferred Income Tax
    • Working Capital Management Importance
    • Extraordinary Items
    • Deferred Tax
    • Long Term Liabilities
    • Perpetual Inventory System
    • Intangible Assets Examples
    • Goodwill
    • Working Capital Loan
    • Consolidated Financial Statement
    • Contingent Asset
    • Cash and Cash Equivalents
    • Fixed Assets
    • Current Asset
    • Financial Assets Types
    • Financial Assets
    • Wasting Asset
    • Write off
    • Objectives of Financial Statement Analysis
    • Earnout
    • Hire Purchase
    • Sublease
    • Off Balance Sheet
    • Liabilities Example
    • Leasehold
    • Off Balance Sheet Financing
    • Revolving Credit Facility
    • General Reserve
    • Accounting Information System
    • Accounting Transaction
    • Limitations of Financial Statement Analysis
    • 3 Types of Inventory
    • Cook the Books
    • Non Performing Assets
    • Revenue Reserve
    • Commitments and Contingencies
    • Conservatism Principle of Accounting
    • Money Measurement Concept
    • Materiality Concept
    • Types of Accounting
    • Types of Financial Statements
    • Balance Sheet Items
    • Components of Financial Statements
    • Cost Method
    • Related Party Transactions
    • Relevance in Accounting
    • Responsibility Accounting
    • Tragedy of the Commons
    • Accounts Receivable Aging
    • Accounting Scandals
    • Cost Benefit Principle
    • Accrual Accounting Examples
    • Fiscal Year
    • Financial Statement Limitations
    • Grey List
    • Objectives of Financial Statements
    • What are Accounting Principles?
    • Accounting Controls
    • Users of Financial Statements
    • Accounting Cycle
    • Accounting Estimates
    • Window Dressing in Accounting
    • What are Accounting Policies?
    • Fringe Benefits
    • Full Disclosure Principle
    • Financial Statement Examples
    • Sunk Cost
    • Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio
    • Days in Inventory
    • Current Ratio vs Quick Ratio
    • Investment Banking vs Private Equity
    • Private Equity vs Hedge Fund
    • Accounting Ratios
    • Shell Corporation
    • Cost Accounting Career
    • Funds from Operations
    • Accounting Career
    • Actuaries Career
    • General Ledger Accounting
    • Forensic Accounting Career
    • Auditing Career
    • Budgeting Career
    • Gross Profit Ratio
    • Management Accounting Career
    • Cycle Counting
    • Going Concern Concept
    • Debit Note vs Credit Note
    • EBIT vs Net Income
    • EBIT vs Operating Income
    • EBITDA vs Net Income
    • EBITDA vs Operating Income
    • GAPP vs Non-GAAP
    • Finance vs Lease
    • Gross sales vs Net sales
    • Income Tax vs Payroll Tax
    • Mortgage Banker vs Broker
    • Revenue vs Net Income
    • Shareholder vs Stakeholder
    • Stock Option vs RSU
    • Full Form of FYI
    • Return on Invested Capital
    • Transaction Exposure
    • LLC vs Partnership
    • Replacement Cost
    • Unit Contribution Margin
    • Accounts Payable vs Notes Payable
    • CA vs CS
    • Capitalizing vs Expensing
    • CPA vs CA
    • Trial Balance vs Balance Sheet
    • CA vs MBA
    • Merger Accounting
    • Cash Management
    • Sole Proprietorship vs LLC
    • Manufacturing Overhead
    • Asset Retirement Obligation
    • Temporary Account
    • Leveraged Lease
    • Predetermined Overhead Rate
    • Drag-Along Rights
    • Special Journal
    • Interest vs Dividend
    • Direct Materials
    • Accounting Method
    • Return on Sales
    • Calendar Year vs Fiscal Year
    • Contribution Margin Income Statement
    • Activity Based Budgeting
    • Common Size Income Statement
    • Capital Lease vs Operating Lease
    • Insolvency vs Bankruptcy
    • Vertical Analysis of Income Statement
    • Debt vs Equity Financing
    • Adjusted EBITDA
    • LLC vs Inc
    • Return on Average Capital Employed
    • Stocks vs Real Estate
    • Return on Equity
    • Return on Capital Employed
    • Diluted Earnings Per Share
    • Limited Partner vs General Partner
    • Basic EPS
    • Cash Flow Return on Investment
    • Fixed vs Variable
    • Public Company vs Private Company
    • Market Order vs Limit Order
    • Return on Total Assets
    • Hard Cost vs Soft Cost
    • Return on Average Assets
    • Ethereum vs Ethereum Classic
    • Capital Employed
    • Gross Profit Percentage
    • OIBDA
    • Average Collection Period
    • Profit Margin
    • EBITDA Margin
    • Working Capital Turnover Ratio
    • Marginal vs Effective Tax Rate
    • CFO vs Controller
    • Accounting Interview Questions
    • EBITDA
    • Asymmetric Information
    • Days Payable Outstanding
    • Journal Examples
    • Debit vs Credit
    • Lease vs Rent
    • Buying vs Leasing
    • Finance Job From Engineering
    • Days Inventory Outstanding
    • Horizontal Integration Example
    • Revenue Expenditure
    • Accounts Payable Turnover Ratio
    • Statement of Cash Flows
    • Days Sales Uncollected
    • Days Sales Outstanding
    • Statement of Income Example
    • Unadjusted Trial Balance
    • Red Herring Example
    • Revenue vs Turnover
    • Functions of Financial Market
    • Cost of Goods Sold Example
    • Operating Ratio
    • Stock Turnover Ratio
    • Bill of Sale Examples
    • Break Even Analysis Example
    • Financial Analysis Example
    • Statement of Retained Earnings Example
    • Equity Ratio
    • Long Term Liabilities Example
    • Defensive Interval Ratio
    • Operating Expense Example
    • Solvency Ratio
    • Capital Adequacy Ratio
    • Cash Flow From Operations Ratio
    • Working Capital Example
    • Cash Reserve Ratio
    • Quick Ratio
    • Loan Sharks
    • Fixed Asset Examples
    • Partnership Example
    • Standard Deviation Examples
    • Accounting vs CPA
    • Period Cost vs Product Cost
    • Cash Ratio
    • Investment vs Speculation
    • Annuity vs Lump Sum
    • Bank Draft vs Certified Cheque
    • Bidding vs Auction
    • Better in Business and Finance
    • Direct Tax vs Indirect Tax
    • Financial Ratio Analysis Technique
    • EPS and Diluted EPS
    • Stocks vs Bonds
    • IFRS Vs US GAAP
    • Finance Degree Career Options
    • Tax Slabs & Rates
    • Lease vs Buy
    • Interest Rate vs Annual Percentage Rate
    • Long Term vs Short Term Capital Gains
    • Memorandum of Association vs Article of Association
    • Large Cap vs Small Cap
    • CPA vs CMA
    • Assets vs Liabilities
    • Revenue vs Income
    • Bookkeeping vs Accounting
    • Financial Lease vs Operating Lease
    • EBIT vs EBITDA
    • Revenue vs Sales
    • Common stock vs Preferred stock
    • US GAAP vs IFRS
    • Current Account vs Capital Account
    • IFRS in India
    • Finance vs Economics
    • ACCA vs CIMA
    • Current Assets vs Non Current Assets
    • Economic Examples
    • Investment vs savings
    • Active vs Passive Investing
    • Financial Accounting vs Management Accounting
    • Revenue vs Earnings
    • Trade Discount vs Cash Discount
    • Limited Liability Company
    • Finance for Non Finance Professionals
    • Costs vs Expenses
    • Chapter 11 vs Chapter 13
    • Why Financial Analytics
    • Accounting vs Financial Management
    • ACA vs ACCA
    • ACCA vs CPA
    • Budget vs Forecast
    • Positive Economics vs Normative Economics
    • CA vs ACCA
    • Stakeholders Example
    • Stock vs Options
    • Liquidity vs Solvency
    • Stock vs Equities
    • Franchising vs Licensing
    • GDP vs GNP
    • Inflation vs Deflation
    • Economic Growth vs Economic Development
    • Direct cost vs Indirect Cost
    • Accrual Accounting vs Cash Accounting
    • FCFF vs FCFE
    • Public vs Private Accounting
    • Capex vs Opex
    • BSE vs NSE
    • Loans vs Advances
    • Discount Rate vs Interest Rate
    • ROIC vs ROCE
    • Percentage Of Completion Method
    • 10K vs 10Q
    • Shares Outstanding vs Float
    • Contribution Margin vs Gross Margin
    • Short Term vs Long Term Capital Gains
    • General Journal vs General Ledger
    • Outsourcing vs Offshoring
    • Depreciation vs Amortization
    • Liability vs Debt
    • Asset Purchase vs Stock Purchase
    • Accrual vs Provision
    • Actuary vs Accountant
    • Stock vs Inventory
    • Liability vs Expense
    • Dividends EX-Date vs Record Date
    • Bid Price vs Ask Price
    • Dividend vs Growth
    • Time vs Money
    • IRA vs 401 (k)
    • Corporation vs LLC
    • CEO vs President
    • Margin vs Markup
    • Leasehold vs Freehold
    • Lending vs Borrowing
    • Non-Profit vs Not For Profit
    • Corporation vs Incorporation
    • CFO vs CEO
    • Purchase vs Procurement
    • Deficit vs Debt
    • Internal Audit Vs External Audit
    • C Corp vs S Corp
    • Absolute Advantage vs Comparative Advantage
    • Tangible vs Intangible
    • Executive Director vs Managing Director
    • Company vs Firm
    • Insurance vs Assurance
    • Expense vs Expenditure
    • Hard Money vs Soft Money
    • Entrepreneurship vs Management
    • Loan vs Mortgage
    • Fair Value vs Market Value
    • Chief Executive Officer vs Managing Director
    • Manufacturing vs Production
    • Random Error vs Systematic Error
    • 401(K) vs Roth IRA
    • 403(b) vs 457
    • Adjusting Entries
    • Equity vs Commodity
    • Turnover vs Profit
    • Effective Interest Rate
    • Working Capital Ratio
    • Margin vs Profit
    • Loan vs Lease
    • Shares vs Debentures
    • Equity vs Fixed Income
    • Market Equilibrium
    • Economics vs Business
    • Secured vs Unsecured Credit Card
    • Profitability vs Liquidity
    • Z score vs T score
    • Equity vs Asset
    • Geometric Mean vs Arithmetic Mean
    • Cost vs Price
    • Industry vs Sector
    • ShortSale vs Foreclosure
    • Revenue vs Profit
    • Real Interest Rate
    • Account Payable vs Accrued Expense
    • Day Trading vs Swing Trading
    • Indirect Costs
    • Graphs vs Charts
    • Issued Shares vs Outstanding Shares
    • Creditor vs Debtor
    • Annuity vs IRA
    • Pension vs Annuity
    • Debt Consolidation vs Bankruptcy
    • Equity vs Shares
    • Economic Utility
    • Average vs Weighted Average
    • Operating Profit vs Net Profit
    • Purpose of Income Statement
    • NASDAQ vs Dow Jones
    • Direct Method of Cash Flow Statement
    • Real GDP
    • Derivatives Example
    • Nominal GDP
    • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
    • Cost of Sales vs Cost of Goods Sold
    • Historical Value vs Fair Value
    • General Ledger vs Trial Balance
    • Actual Cash Value vs Replacement Cost
    • Job Costing vs Process Costing
    • Standard Cost vs Actual Cost
    • 401k vs Annuity
    • FIFO vs LIFO
    • Bid Price vs Offer Price
    • Sole Proprietorship vs Partnership
    • Equity Shares vs Preference Shares
    • Debt vs Equity
    • Cost Accounting vs Financial Accounting
    • Coupon vs Yield
    • Career in Finance
    • Gross Salary vs Net Salary
    • Tax Credit vs Tax Deduction
    • Variance vs Standard Deviation
    • What is Disposable Income
    • Liabilities in Accounting
    • Chapter 7 vs Chapter 11
    • Budgeting Examples
    • Fixed Costs Example
    • Joint Venture Example
    • Quantitative Research Example
    • Bootstrapping Examples
    • Monopoly Examples
    • Monopolistic Competition Examples
    • Risk Assessment Example
    • Inflation Accounting
    • Defined Benefit Plan
    • Variable Costing Example
    • Acquisition Examples
    • Cognitive Dissonance Example
    • Opportunity Costs Examples
    • Globalization Example
    • Histogram Examples
    • Mean Example
    • Trial Balance Example
    • Command Economy Examples
    • Sunk Cost Examples
    • Compounding Example
    • Compound Interest Example
    • Profit vs Income
    • Joint Venture vs Partnership
    • Comparative Advantage Example
    • Bank Reconciliation Example
    • Competitive Advantage Example
    • Accrual vs Deferral
  • Asset Management Tutorial (63+)
  • Banking (43+)
  • Corporate Finance Basics (125+)
  • Credit Research Fundamentals (6+)
  • Economics (44+)
  • Finance Formula (372+)
  • Financial Modeling in Excel (13+)
  • Investment Banking Basics (60+)
  • Investment Banking Careers (26+)
  • Trading for dummies (65+)
  • valuation basics (24+)
Finance Blog Courses
  • Finance for Non Finance Managers Certification
  • Cost Accounting Course
  • US GAAP Course
Footer
About Us
  • Blog
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  • Corporate Training
  • Certificate from Top Institutions
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  •  
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Resources
  • Free Courses
  • Investment Banking Jobs Offer
  • Finance Formula
  • All Tutorials
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Financial Analyst All in One Bundle
  • Investment Banking Training
  • Financial Modeling Course
  • Equity Research Course
  • Private Equity Training Course
  • Business Valuation Course
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Course

© 2020 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA
Free Investment Banking Course

Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
Book Your One Instructor : One Learner Free Class

Let’s Get Started

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you
EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

EDUCBA
Free Investment Banking Course

Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

Special Offer - Finance for Non Finance Managers Certification Learn More