Tax Lien Subordination, Release & Withdrawal

In difficult economic times, many property owners fall behind in their tax payments.

As a claim of security against that tax debt, the IRS may place a tax lien on your home or property. This means the U.S. government has the legal right to your property until that debt is discharged.

Likewise, the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) may put a tax lien against your property as collateral to pay for a tax debt to the State of Indiana.

A tax lien impedes your ability to engage in any dealings with your property. You may not be able to sell or refinance your residence or property at a time when you may have tremendous need to sell that property.

If you have an IRS or state tax lien on your home and you want to sell or refinance, Dutton Legal Group can help you.

What Is Tax Lien Subordination?

Tax lien subordination is when the IRS agrees to take a secondary position on your home’s title so you can sell or refinance your home even when the IRS has filed a tax lien against your home.

In other words, by subordinating the lien, another creditor or lender is allowed to move ahead of the U.S. government, giving that lender priority to the property and permitting the refinance or sale of the property. Subordination may also give you an opportunity to use equity to pay tax debt or challenge the lien filing in Tax Court.

Without lien subordination, you may be unable to refinance or sell your home when you owe taxes. In Indiana, a tax warrant is the equivalent of an IRS tax lien.

As your tax attorneys, we will need to show evidence (such as property value, existing debt, lender and loan information) and make the argument that, by granting subordination, the IRS benefits because the subordination expedites the collection of the tax debt owed.

Dutton Legal Group has successfully brokered lien subordinations for our clients, lowering their IRS debt and putting them in a better financial situation going into the future.

What is Tax Lien Release and Withdrawal?

Tax lien release is when the IRS agrees to release a federal tax lien that was filed in the clerk’s office in the county in which you have real estate. The IRS is required to release liens after your tax debt is cancelled, corrected, or paid, but sometimes the IRS fails to do so.

Tax lien withdrawal is when the IRS agrees to remove a federal tax lien that appears on your credit report due to unpaid taxes. An IRS tax lien can stay on your credit report, even if you have paid all of your taxes, if the IRS has not withdrawn its tax lien. The IRS usually does not withdraw a federal tax lien on its own; you have to request that the lien be withdrawn.

Further, even if you still owe taxes, the IRS may withdraw its tax lien, if you request a lien withdraw and the IRS grants it.

Dutton Legal Group has successfully released and withdrawn liens based on cancellation, correction, or payment of tax debt and even when the underlying taxes remained unpaid, improving our clients’ credit scores and financial well-being in the process.

Consult an Experienced Tax Lawyer to Argue for Lien Subordination, Release, or Withdrawal

If you work with the right tax lawyer in Indiana, you stand a far better chance of negotiating better, even favorable terms with the state tax authorities or IRS.

We can begin helping you immediately. Call to speak with a tax attorney at our law firm today and request a free consultation about your tax problem.

Let Us Help:

IRS Tax Debt Resolution Strategies: How Indiana Parents Can Safeguard Trump Accounts

Quick Answer: The IRS cannot directly seize money in your child's Trump Account because the minor is the legal owner and funds are locked until age 18. However, moving cash from a bank account tied to an active tax lien triggers transferee liability, allowing the...

How to Use AI For Business Growth: 10 Prompts for Indiana Small Business Owners

Quick Answer: Learning how to use AI for business successfully relies on using targeted prompts to audit operational drag and organize strategic growth ideas. These practical prompts help business owners turn raw AI brainstorming into actionable meeting prep,...

Should Your Indiana Business Make an LLC to S Corp Conversion This Tax Year?

Quick Answer: An LLC to S Corp conversion is an IRS tax status election that becomes financially beneficial once your business achieves $60,000 to $100,000+ in annual net profit. By preserving your legal LLC structure while splitting income into a reasonable W-2...

What Happens If You Don’t Pay Payroll Taxes, Indiana Business Owners

Quick Answer: If your business falls behind on payroll taxes, the IRS has the legal authority to look past your corporation or LLC shield and hold you personally liable for the employee's withheld portion under the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. Because these debts...

Succession Planning Best Practices to Maximize Your Indiana Business’s Final Valuation

Quick Answer: The core business succession planning best practices come down to three things: giving yourself a 2-to-5-year runway, setting up your team to run the day-to-day without you, and cleaning up your financials. Before you sign any paperwork, you'll want...

What If I Can’t Pay The IRS What I Owe? Help for Indiana Taxpayers

Quick Answer: If you can't pay the IRS what you owe by the notice deadline, the IRS will not immediately seize your paycheck or freeze your bank account. Missing the date does, however, trigger a predictable sequence of automated mail notices. You still have time...

How Do I Maximize My Indiana Small Business Tax Write-Offs in 2026?

Quick Answer: In 2026, small business owners can instantly write off the full cost of qualifying equipment, software, and vehicles by pairing the increased Section 179 deduction limit of $2,560,000 with the newly reinstated 100% Bonus Depreciation framework. To...

How to Check Your Indiana Small Business Profitability Midyear

Quick Answer: A midyear review of small business profitability is a strategic financial assessment that compares your year-to-date revenue and expenses against your initial annual goals. Doing this diagnostic check in June or July allows business owners to stop...

How to Stop a Levy on Your Indiana Bank Account After an IRS Notice

Quick Answer: You stop an IRS levy or wage garnishment by acting fast, confirming what the IRS is trying to collect, and getting into a formal resolution before more money is taken. Depending on your situation, that can mean requesting a hearing, setting up a...

How Does Equipment Depreciation Work For Assets Indiana Business Owners Throw Away?

Quick Answer: When small business owners discard broken equipment without updating their fixed asset listing, they create "ghost assets." These paper-only items cause businesses to continuously overpay on local property taxes and miss out on lump-sum federal...

Ready to come in for an appointment?

Click here to schedule a time to meet with us. We will NOT make dealing with a tax professional as painful as it’s been in the past!