IRS tax lien help in Brooklyn and NYC
A refinance stalls. A sale won't close. A title search turns up a federal tax lien you didn't know was still there. If you need IRS tax lien help in Brooklyn or anywhere in NYC, you're usually dealing with a deadline, a closing date, or both.
I'm Solomon Grosinger, an Enrolled Agent based in Brooklyn. I help people and businesses with IRS, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania tax problems, including federal tax liens that block a sale, a refinance or a loan.
What a federal tax lien is (and what the public notice is)
A federal tax lien is the government's legal claim on your property when a tax debt isn't paid. It arises after the IRS assesses the tax, sends you a bill (a notice and demand for payment), and the bill isn't paid in full. Between you and the IRS, that lien exists even before anything is filed in the public record.
The Notice of Federal Tax Lien is the separate public filing. It alerts other creditors that the government has a claim. That notice is what shows up in a title search, and it's what lenders and title companies react to.
The 30-day deadline to ask for a lien hearing
After the IRS files a Notice of Federal Tax Lien, it must notify you within 5 business days. That letter (often Letter 3172) gives you a Collection Due Process hearing right. You generally have 30 days, by the "must file by" date on the letter, to request the hearing in writing, usually on Form 12153.
That window is short. If the letter is still in the envelope, open it and look at the date. A timely hearing request can cover collection alternatives, whether the notice should have been filed, and related issues. If the deadline already passed, other options may still exist, but the Tax Court path from a CDP determination usually doesn't.
Four ways to deal with a filed lien
Paying the debt in full is the most direct path. The IRS releases a federal tax lien within 30 days after the debt is paid (or becomes legally unenforceable, or a bond is accepted). Publication 1450 explains how to request a Certificate of Release when you need one.
When a full payoff isn't the right move for the closing in front of you, these tools can fit:
1. Release. Ends the lien itself once the liability is satisfied or no longer enforceable. Lenders often want the Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien on file.
2. Withdrawal. Removes the public Notice of Federal Tax Lien so the IRS is no longer competing with other creditors for that notice priority. You still owe the balance. You request it on Form 12277.
One common path is a direct debit installment agreement when you owe $25,000 or less (you can pay the balance down to $25,000 first), the plan will full-pay within 60 months or before the collection statute ends (whichever is earlier), you've made three consecutive direct debit payments, you're in compliance with filing and payment rules, and you haven't defaulted on this or a prior direct debit plan. There is also a post-release withdrawal path if you've been compliant for the past three years and you're current on estimates or deposits.
3. Discharge. Removes the lien from one specific property, often so a sale can close. The lien can stay on everything else you own. Apply on Form 14135 (see Publication 783). The IRS asks you to apply at least 45 days before the transaction date you need.
4. Subordination. Does not remove the lien. It lets another creditor, usually a refinance lender, move ahead of the IRS on that property. Apply on Form 14134 (see Publication 784). Same 45-day timing guidance applies.
Which one fits depends on whether you're selling, refinancing, paying in full, or staying on a payment plan. The wrong request, or a request filed too close to closing, is how deals fall apart.
Fixing the balance first
Before I chase a certificate, I look at whether the balance is even right. Missing returns, a return the IRS filed for you, penalties that may qualify for abatement, or credits that never posted can change the number. A smaller, accurate balance is easier to pay, plan or withdraw against.
What I do
Look at the letter and the calendar. Closing date, hearing deadline, and how long the collection period has left.
Get your authorization signed so I can speak with the IRS for you.
Pull your transcripts and confirm what's owed, which years, and whether a Notice of Federal Tax Lien was filed.
File missing returns when the balance is based on incomplete numbers.
Pick the path that matches the deal: payoff and release, withdrawal (including the direct debit route when it fits), discharge for a sale, or subordination for a refinance.
Handle New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania at the same time when a state warrant or state lien is also in the way.
I also handle sales tax and payroll tax, so business owners can bring the whole picture to one place.
Who I help
I take clients who are ready to send documents, answer calls and stay current going forward. I take cases where I believe I can make a real difference. I won't promise an outcome. Nobody honest can. I can promise a straight answer about what I see.
Common questions
Does an IRS tax lien still show on my credit report? The major consumer credit bureaus generally stopped including tax liens on standard credit reports years ago. The Notice of Federal Tax Lien is still a public record. Lenders, title companies and specialty screening services can still find it, which is why a sale or refinance can stall even when your credit score looks fine.
How long does a federal tax lien last? The underlying lien generally lasts for the collection period, usually 10 years from the assessment date, unless that period is extended. Many filed notices also have a "Last Day for Refiling." If the IRS doesn't refile by that date, the notice can self-release. Don't assume that without checking the notice and your account.
Can I sell a property that has an IRS lien on it? Often yes, but the deal usually needs a plan: a payoff and release, a discharge of that property, or enough equity and paperwork for the IRS to approve the transaction. Start that work well before the closing date.
What's the difference between a lien and a levy? A lien is a claim on your property. A levy is the IRS actually taking property, such as freezing a bank account or garnishing wages. They are related, but they are not the same problem and they are not fixed the same way.
What about a New York State tax warrant? A New York tax warrant is different from a federal Notice of Federal Tax Lien. It's filed by the state and works like a civil judgment against your property. If both the IRS and New York are involved, both have to be addressed.
Let's talk about it
Book a free 30-minute call to go over your case. For a quick question, you can call (718) 510-3166. Message me with the letter and your closing date, and I'll tell you straight where you stand.
I help with IRS, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania tax problems.
General info, not advice for your specific case. Every case is different.