Lien vs. Levy
A lien secures the government's interest in your property. A levy actually takes it.
Full Definition
These are two different things and the IRS states the distinction plainly: a lien is not a levy. A lien secures the government's interest in your property when you do not pay your tax debt. A levy actually takes the property to pay the debt. The IRS states that if you do not pay or make arrangements to settle your tax debt, it can levy, seize and sell any type of real or personal property that you own or have an interest in. The practical difference for a reader is that a lien is a claim recorded against what you have, while a levy is a collection action taken against it.
What to do next
Work out which one you are actually facing by reading the title of the notice you received, then follow the entry that matches — the two have different consequences and different appeal routes.
Sources
- Understanding a federal tax lien — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-20
Last reviewed 2026-08-20 by Tax Resolution Clarity editorial.
Sourced to primary IRS materials and editorially reviewed. Not reviewed by a tax professional. Not tax advice.
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Where to go next
The IRS publishes the rules this page describes. Your own notice governs your dates.