Section 3. Lien Release and Related Topics

(1) Editorial changes made throughout to update references and terminology; revise wording for clarification and compliance with writing standards; and correct formatting issues.

(2) 5.12.3.3.1.1. Updated to incorporate IGM SBSE-05-0714-0040 regarding the use of DPC 07.

(3) 5.12.3.3.1.1.1. Added information to clarify when releases can be issued for EFT payments.

(4) 5.12.3.4.1.2. New subsection to clarify policy for releasing filings related to an NFTL.

(5) 5.12.3.5.1. Inserted note on releases through the Taxpayer Assistance Center. Clarified instruction regarding the payment of filing fees for manually issued releases.

(6) 5.12.3.6. Added paragraph regarding the assessment of fees associated with the filing of a partial release.

(7) 5.12.3.7. Clarified instruction regarding the payment of filing fees for manually issued releases.

(8) 5.12.3.14.1. Updated language to reflect ability of revenue officers to approve revocations on cases assigned to them.

(9) 5.12.3.15. Changed title to Reinstating the Statutory Lien. Moved paragraphs 5-11 to new subsection 5.12.3.16.

(10) 5.12.3.15.1. New subsection of instructions formerly in 5.12.3.16. Retitled for clarity.

(11) 5.12.3.16. New subsection titled Re-establishing NFTL Priority using paragraphs 4-11 previously in 5.12.3.15.

(12) 5.12.3.17. Updated to incorporate IGM SBSE-05-0714-0040 regarding the use of DPC 07.

(13) 5.12.3.18. Changed wording for frequency of review.

Effect on Other Documents

This material supersedes IRM 5.12.3, dated October 14, 2013, and Interim Guidance Memo SBSE-05-0714-0040, Change to Definition of Designated Payment Code 07.

Audience

Effective Date

Rocco Steco
Acting Director, Collection Policy
Small Business/Self Employed Division

Purpose

1. The purpose of this Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) is to convey instructions related to releasing liens, lien notices, revocations, and civil causes of action under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §§ 6326 and 7432.
2. See IRM Exhibit 5.12.1-2, Glossary of Common Acronyms in IRM 5.12, for common acronyms used in this section.
3. This IRM is for procedural use and does not provide instruction on the use of any system. Please consult User Guides as necessary.

• Automated Lien System (ALS) User Guide: http://mysbse.web.irs.gov/Collection/collsystems/als/userguide/default.aspx
• Integrated Collection System (ICS) User Guide: http://icsweb.web.irs.gov/Docs/HTML/user_guide.htm

Lien Release (Overview)

1. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 6323 provides for the filing of a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL). The IRC also provides for the issuance of other certificates for the administration of the lien, including:

• Release of lien (IRC § 6325(a));
• Discharge of lien (IRC § 6325(b));
• Subordination of lien (IRC § 6325(d));
• Nonattachment of lien (IRC § 6325(e)); and
• Withdrawal of NFTL (IRC § 6323(j)).

Note:

For instructions on other lien certificates as shown above, see their respective sections--IRM 5.12.9, Withdrawal of Notice of Federal Tax Lien, and IRM 5.12.10, Lien Related Certificates.

Note:

References in IRM 1.2.44.5 to SB/SE Technical Services (Advisory) should be considered as references to Advisory.

Note:

On June 1, 2015, ALS began partially redacting EINs on the lien-related certificates it generates. Programming for other systems that generate lien-related certificates will similarly be updated in the future.

Lien Release Conditions

1. IRC § 6325(a) requires the issuance of a release of federal tax lien within thirty (30) calendar days of the date on which:

• The liability is satisfied;
• The liability becomes legally unenforceable; or
• A bond is accepted.

• It is determined that the release will not be systemically issued within the required thirty (30) calendar days;
• Thirty days have elapsed since the date of satisfaction and the lien has not been released;
• The NFTL contains Non-Master File (NMF) modules; or
• The taxpayer, their representative, or a third party with an interest in property attached by a NFTL requests an immediate release of lien.

1. Manually requesting a release is the act of preparing Form 13794, Request for Release or Partial Release of Notice of Federal Tax Lien, and forwarding it to the Centralized Lien Operation (CLO) for input to ALS.
2. Manually preparing a release is the act of physically preparing Form 668(Z), Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien, and forwarding it to CLO to be mailed to the recording office.
3. Manually issuing a release is the act of physically preparing Form 668(Z) and providing it directly to the taxpayer or recording office.

Note:

Dead cycles are generally the first 2-3 cycles of the calendar year. Payments that are received, or other satisfying transactions that occur, at the end of the calendar year may have their posting to Master File delayed by the dead cycles. Releases should be manually requested for any satisfying transactions impacted by the dead cycles.

Liability is Satisfied - IRC § 6325(a)(1)

1. Under IRC § 6325(a)(1), a certificate of release of lien must be issued within thirty (30) calendar days after determining that the taxpayer’s outstanding obligation covered by the NFTL (including any interest, additional amount, addition to the tax, or assessable penalty, together with any additional costs that may have accrued) is fully satisfied.
2. Modules may be satisfied by payment or by adjustment/abatement to the taxpayer's account.
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4. The starting time for the 30-day release period is affected by the type of satisfying transaction. See Exhibit 5.12.3-1 for a listing of satisfaction types and how the 30 days is generally calculated.
5. A release must be manually requested whenever all the liabilities of a NFTL on NMF periods are fully satisfied.

Liability Satisfied by Payment

1. A NFTL is considered satisfied by payment when the full amount owed of all the liabilities on the NFTL, including penalties and interest, is paid. This may be done by means such as a taxpayer remitting a payment; a credit offset being applied to the module(s) on the NFTL from a payment on other module(s); or the taxpayer completing the payment terms on an accepted OIC.
2. At times, the taxpayer, their representative, or a third party with interest in property attached by the lien may request an immediate release of the lien. This may be for the purpose of transferring property, completing some other financial transaction, or just to resolve the lien.
3. A release may be immediately issued when the liability(s) on the NFTL is satisfied by the following forms of payment:

• cash;
• postal money order;
• bank money order;
• certified check;
• cashier's check;
• official bank check;
• Treasury check; or
• guaranteed draft drawn on any federally chartered or state licensed financial institution.

Note:

If there is reason to doubt the financial stability of an institution, then reject the tender of the institution’s guaranteed draft. If a guaranteed draft is not duly paid, then the United States will have a lien on all assets of the drawee institution in the amount of the draft.

Electronic and Credit Card Payments

1. DO NOT issue an immediate release when credit or debit cards are used to full pay the tax liability. Credit and debit cards are barred for immediate release of lien because of the possibility of chargeback of such payments over a period of months. It is unlikely that a release will be requested from a credit or debit card payment because the Service may accept such payments only within three years after assessment. However, if a debit or credit card is accepted to satisfy a tax year and a request for release is received, the lien may not be released until the period for chargeback has run. The maximum period for chargeback is:

• 120 calendar days for payment by credit card under 15 U.S.C. § 1666, and
• 100 calendar days for payment by debit card under 15 U.S.C. § 1693f.

Note:

For general information regarding payment of tax liabilities with credit and debit cards by individuals, see IRM 21.2.1.48, Electronic Payment Options for Individuals and Business e-file Users.

Liability Satisfied by Adjustment/Abatement

1. A NFTL is considered satisfied when the full balance owed on the liability(s) on the NFTL, including penalties and interest, is resolved through an abatement or adjustment to the module(s) on the NFTL.
2. Liens are considered satisfied and releases should be manually requested when any of the following conditions exist:

• Form 3870, Request for Adjustment, is forwarded for processing – If the approved adjustment will fully satisfy the liability(s) shown on the NFTL and input of transaction code 470, closing code 89 or 90 is requested.
• Form 4159, Payment Tracer Request, is forwarded for processing – If transaction code 470, closing code 93 was input at the request of the initiator of the Form 4159, campus personnel, upon locating the payment and determining that transfer to the proper account will fully satisfy the liability(s) shown on the NFTL, should request a release of lien.
• Premature assessments in Tax Court cases – If Appeals confirms that an assessment is premature, after forwarding approved Form 3870 and requesting input of transaction code 470, closing code 90.
• Accounts with pending abatements – Whenever pending abatements that will satisfy the liability(s) are present on IDRS.
• Pending credit transfers - Whenever pending credit transfers that will satisfy the liability(s) are present on IDRS.
• Corrected unpostables - Whenever an unpostable condition is identified that will, upon correction, satisfy the liability(s).
• Delayed payment posting - If, due to oversight or the absence of an employee to whom a payment is submitted, processing of a payment that will satisfy a lien is delayed for more than fifteen (15) calendar days.

Note:

See IRM 5.1.15, Abatements, Reconsiderations and Adjustments, for procedures on requesting abatements. See IRM 5.12.3.5.6 , NFTL Fee Abatements, for guidance on abating NFTL filing fees.

Liability is Unenforceable - IRC § 6325(a)(1)

1. The term "unenforceable" means unenforceable as a matter of law and not merely uncollectible. Most commonly, "unenforceable" pertains to the passing of the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED).

Note:

Reminder:

The Last Day for Refiling is not the CSED. If a NFTL is filed within the first ten years of assessment, the Last Day for Refiling runs concurrently with the CSED (i.e., CSED plus 30 days). If the CSED is extended beyond the original 10 years from assessment date, there is no direct correlation between the CSED and Last Day for Refiling.

Acceptance of a Bond - IRC § 6325(a)(2)

1. Issue a release of a lien within thirty (30) calendar days of accepting a bond securing the payment of the amount assessed (including any interest, addition to tax, assessable penalty, together with any accrued costs) within the time agreed to in the bond, but not later than six months before the expiration of the statutory period for collection. See IRC § 6325(a)(2).
2. The bond must be executed by a surety company holding a certificate of authority from the Secretary of the Treasury, or, at the discretion of the area director, collateral may be accepted within established limits (see IRC § 7101 and IRC § 7102).
3. A listing of approved sureties is contained in Department Circular 570, Treasury's Listing of Approved Sureties, which is available on the internet at www.fms.treas.gov/c570. See IRM 5.6.1.2.1, Bonds. The acceptability of a surety, other than a Treasury approved surety, must be determined on a case by case basis.
4. Bonds, letters of credit and other types of securities may be accepted in lieu of filing NFTLs. See IRM 5.6.1.2, Types of Acceptable Securities, and IRM 5.12.10, Lien Related Certificates, for additional information regarding collateral agreements

Certificate of Release

1. Issue a certificate of release only after all modules covered by the NFTL meet the criteria for release.
2. For NFTLs with multiple modules, a partial release certificate can be issued after each assessment is satisfied or becomes unenforceable; however, this should only be done if a specific request is received from the taxpayer.

Requesting a Certificate of Release on ALS

1. ALS is the system designed to house information relative to NFTLs that have been filed. The CLO has primary responsibility for the maintenance of ALS data.
2. The majority of certificates of release are systemically generated through ALS after its weekly interface with Master File; however, certificates of release can also be generated when release data is manually input to ALS. This is done when there is insufficient time to wait for systemic processing or the systemic release will not be accomplished within thirty (30) days of the satisfaction date. Releases manually input are printed and mailed by CLO in accordance with standard procedures.

Caution:

Do not confuse releases manually input to ALS with releases manually prepared in the field. Releases manually input to ALS are generally to speed up the issuance process to 3–7 days. Manually-prepared releases are generally for immediate issuance to the taxpayer.

Note:

As an alternative to forwarding Form 13794 to CLO, Advisory and Insolvency employees with appropriate permissions may input the release information directly into the ALS.

Self-Releasing Lien

1. NFTLs filed on Form 668(Y)(c), Notice of Federal Tax Lien, show a "Last Day for Refiling." Language on the form states that if the NFTL is not refiled by that date, the lien shall be considered to be released. This is known as a self-releasing lien.

Note:

The self-releasing language was incorporated into Form 668(Y) in December 1982. In very rare situations, you may encounter a NFTL filed prior to that time. Although such a NFTL would not have been self-releasing, it still required timely refiling to maintain its effectiveness. Any such NFTLs that continue to be identified as active by the local recording office should be researched and addressed accordingly.

1. If the taxpayer requests a certificate of release and the underlying liabilities have been satisfied or are no longer enforceable, then a certificate of release should be issued.
2. If a NFTL contains multiple liabilities that are satisfied by different means (i.e. payment, statute, etc.), a certificate of release may or may not be issued based on the chart below:

1. NFTLs After the Original CSED (NAOC) fka "Portland liens" may or may not specify a "Last Day for Refiling." This date is based on standard refiling periods and does not necessarily coincide with the CSED for modules on the NAOC. A certificate of release must be issued for a NAOC when the CSED expires.

Releases of Related Filings

1. After a NFTL is filed, an amended NFTL might be filed to correct an error on the NFTL and/or the NFTL might be refiled to extend its life. See IRM 5.12.7.9, NFTL Corrections, and IRM 5.12.8, Notice of Lien Refiling. Also, in certain circumstances, a another NFTL might be filed based on the statutory liens covered by the NFTL (e.g., NFTL in another location, special condition NFTL).
2. The issuance of a certificate of release for the original NFTL extinguishes the statutory lien(s) covered by the NFTL and invalidates any related filings; however , it is IRS' general policy to issue a certificate of release for each related filing when the underlying liability is satisfied.
3. When there are related filings to a satisfied NFTL, ensure certificates of release are issued for the related filings as appropriate.

Reminder:

It is possible for a certificate of release to be issued for a NFTL refiling without the original NFTL being released. For instance, there are six assessments on the original NFTL but only four of the assessments were subject to, and included on, the refile. If the four assessments on the refile are satisfied but the other two on the original NFTL are still due, only the NFTL refile should be released.

Manually Preparing a Certificate of Release

1. In situations where a certificate of release needs to be manually prepared in the field, use Form 668(Z) from the ICS templates or the PDF fillable format on the intranet.
2. Prepare the form so that the data matches exactly the information on the NFTL.
3. Depending on the circumstance, the certificate may be forwarded to CLO to be included in the next mailing to the recording office or issued directly to the taxpayer or their representative for filing.

Note:

In situations where a release is manually issued, a copy of the Form 668(Z) must be provided to CLO so that the information may be input to ALS.

Authority to Sign/Request Release of Lien

1. Delegation Order 5-4 in IRM 1.2.44.5 contains a complete list of positions authorized to approve releases of lien.

Use of Electronic Signatures on Lien Certificates

1. Neither the IRC nor Treasury regulations address the method in which lien certificates are to be signed; however, they both address the Secretary’s authority to develop procedures associated with the use and acceptability of electronic signatures on forms and other documents.
2. Approval of documents must always be in accordance with IRM 1.2.44.5, Delegation Order 5-4 (Rev. 3)..
3. Certificates, letters, and forms related to liens may be signed by the approving official via electronic means or by authorized stamp when a physical signature is not feasible.

Note:

Documents generated by ALS are digitally signed in accordance with the delegation order. The electronic signature described in this section is only for situations where manually-prepared certificates are needed.

1. The signature should not contain the email address, logo, location or other unnecessary information.
2. The signature should preferably be an actual/graphic signature file of the approving official or at the minimum should show the name of the approving official. It should not be the Standard Employee Identifier (SEID) as that is for internal use only.
3. The approving official should validate the signature so that the pdf question mark does not appear.

1. Physical signature stamps are designated "High Security." Store signature stamps in accordance with IRM 10.2.15.3(b), Protected Items/Data, with reference to Exhibits 10.2.15-1 and 10.2.15-2. (See also IRM 1.4.6, Managers Security Handbook)
2. All systems capable of reproducing electronic or PDF generated signatures for lien certificates must be official IRS computer systems and be password protected.
3. Ensure a record of approval is available for electronically generated, PDF generated, and stamped signatures.

Processing Requests for Release of Lien

1. During the course of working balance due accounts, situations may be encountered where actions must be taken regarding a lien release. These could include:

• a request from the taxpayer or another customer requesting release of the lien; or
• identifying an issue that could potentially delay the systemic release of the lien.

Full Payment in Exchange for Immediate Lien Release

1. When a taxpayer requests an immediate lien release in exchange for a full payment of the liability, ensure that the payment does satisfy the liabilities and that it is made by a method described in IRM 5.12.3.3.1.1 , Liability Satisfied by Payment.

Note:

For an immediate release request not related to a case in Collection, the taxpayer may be referred to the local Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) office, found on the Who/Where tab on SERP.

• date of the release,
• reason for the release,
• name and badge number of the person initiating the release, and
• name of the person given the release, if different from the taxpayer.

Reminder:

If unable to send this information via email, phone or fax the information to CLO.

Requesting Release without Specific Taxpayer Request

1. Whenever full payment of the liability(s) on a NFTL is received, a request for release may be submitted to CLO whether the taxpayer expressly requested it or not. These manual requests are not generally required but may be considered based on case situations.
2. If there is an expectation that systemic processing of the release will be delayed, a release should be manually requested. Examples of when systemic problems may be anticipated include, but are not limited to:

• Full payment received immediately prior to or during MF dead cycles;
• A freeze condition on the account that restricts normal processing;
• A payment that is split over multiple modules and will result in a significant overpayment of one of the modules.

Note:

ALS systemically holds processing for liabilities satisfied by personal check to allow time for check clearance.

Requests from External Customers

1. Lien release requests may be received verbally, by fax, or in writing from taxpayers, their representatives, or other interested third parties. The request must at the minimum provide the following information:

• The taxpayer's name and address;
• Information about the NFTL;
• The reason for the release request; and
• The requestor's name and contact information, if different from the taxpayer's.

Note:

For third party requests, secure appropriate information to ensure the requester has the right to receive the information before disclosing any information regarding the NFTL (e.g., the requester's interest in the property attached by the lien).

Note:

Taxpayers are not entitled to CAP rights when a lien release is not issued; however, taxpayers may pursue administrative appeal under IRC § 6326, if appropriate.

Certificates of Release Requested by the Taxpayer Advocate Service or Appeals Offices

1. Neither the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) nor Appeals have the authority to release federal tax liens.
2. TAS must use an Operations Assistance Request (OAR), which is Form 12412, to request the IRS release a lien. Before issuance of an OAR, TAS should establish that IRC lien release statutory requirements have been met.
3. Appeals uses Form 13794, Request for Release or Partial Release of Notice of Federal Tax Lien, for their requests. Before requesting a lien release, Appeals should establish that IRC lien release statutory requirements have been met.
4. Generally, the TAS OAR or Appeals request is faxed to the CLO FORT, but occasionally it may be directed to a field employee.

Department of Justice or Court Ordered Requests for Issuance of Certificates of Release

1. Occasionally, it is necessary for the IRS to issue certificates of release based on court decisions or at the request of the Department of Justice.
2. Acknowledge receipt of these requests and ensure the release is prepared and issued immediately.
3. Provide all pertinent information, including the taxpayer's current address, to CLO to prepare the release on ALS.
4. If it is necessary to manually prepare and hand-carry the document to the recording office, pay the filing fee and seek reimbursement through the travel voucher system.
5. When the release is hand-carried to the recording official, forward a copy of the certificate of release with the recording data to the CLO for ALS input.
6. A history should be added to ALS by the CLO that the certificate of release was hand-carried, including the date the certificate was provided by the employee, and the requesting employee's name.
7. As an alternative to the IRS employee manually filing the release and as the situation permits, arrangements may be made through Counsel or DOJ for the release to be provided to the taxpayer or their representative for filing. In this event, ensure necessary release information is provided to CLO to update ALS.

Acceptance of an Offer in Compromise

1. When an offer in compromise (OIC), including a collateral agreement, is accepted, the NFTL is released upon payment of the offered amount.
2. Requests for the issuance of a certificate of release may be made by OIC units with ALS access.
3. OIC managers with access to ALS may approve the issuance of a certificate of release on the ALS system for a joint liability only when the OIC has been accepted from both taxpayers.
4. OIC Units without ALS access secure email or FAX a Form 13794 to CLO.
5. OIC unit managers may issue a certificate of release when extenuating circumstances exist, e.g., innocent spouse, non-petitioning spouse, co-obligors, etc. See Exhibit 5.12.3–3. Use the procedures in (4) above for requesting the release.

OIC Funded by Lending Institutions

1. When the offered amount is to be paid by a lending institution, manually prepare the certificate of release . Do not sign or date the form. The designated employee will sign and date the certificate of release upon receipt of payment.
2. Forward the certificate of release to the assigned revenue officer at the time the taxpayer is informed that the offer is accepted.
3. The revenue officer secures the full offer amount and provides a copy of the release to the lending institution and the taxpayer. Forward the original release to CLO for filing with the recording office.
4. If the taxpayer or lending institution request the original for filing, provide it with Notice 48, Release of Federal Tax Lien, which explains the process for having the certificate of release recorded. Forward a copy of the certificate of release to the CLO for update of the ALS database.

Satisfied or Unenforceable Taxpayer Accounts

1. Follow the procedures in the chart below after verifying the liability has been satisfied.

Trust Fund Recovery Penalty Offsets

1. A certificate of release should be requested for the non-paying officer(s) on a trust fund recovery penalty assessment when one officer has paid the liability in full. This will be done even though the liability has not been abated pending the expiration of the statutory period during which a claim for refund by the paying officer may be made.

NFTL Fee Abatements

1. When an adjustment is made to a module to reduce the tax liability to zero, the taxpayer may still be liable for the fee assessed to the account for the filing of the NFTL (TC 360). The abatement of the NFTL filing fee is dependent on the nature of the underlying assessment and other case facts.
2. The determination to abate the TC 360 NFTL fee should be made on a case by case basis considering the situation surrounding the adjustment and utilizing the best judgment of the employee assigned the account. Generally, the determination should follow the table below. Consult with Advisory if assistance is needed with the determination.

1. If the lien fee is abated, manually requesting a release may be necessary. See IRM 5.12.3.3.1.2 , Liability Satisfied by Adjustment/Abatement.
2. If the NFTL filing fee is not abated, proceed with appropriate actions to resolve the remaining balance.

Reminder:

If all the liabilities on the NFTL are resolved and the filing fee is the remaining balance, ensure the taxpayer is aware of the balance due needed for a lien release.

Partial Lien Release

1. Although there is no provision in the IRC for the issuance of a partial release, circumstances sometimes dictate that a partial release of the NFTL is appropriate.
2. When one person named on a NFTL as a co-obligor for a tax liability is relieved of, or satisfies, their liability, a certificate of release for that taxpayer must be issued. If there remains a balance on the liability for which the other co-obligor is still liable, a partial release must be issued. Most commonly, a partial release is issued when:

• There is a discharge in bankruptcy and only one person of the joint liability petitioned the court;
• An offer-in-compromise is requested by one person of the joint liability and the offered amount is accepted; or
• There is an innocent spouse determination.

1. If, based on the taxpayer's request, a partial release is issued for certain periods on the NFTL, a TC 360 in the amount of the filing fee for the partial release may be assessed on one of the tax periods remaining open on the NFTL.

Partial Release of a Jointly Filed Lien

1. When one party on a jointly-filed NFTL files bankruptcy and is discharged or makes an OIC that is accepted, a TC 971 is posted to the jointly-owed module to trigger the splitting of the account (TC 400), e.g., the one MFT 30 module now becomes two MFT 31 modules. Generally, Master File uploads the partial satisfaction code to ALS and a partial release is systemically generated within the required time frame.
2. Employees monitoring the cases must ensure releases are issued timely. A manual request for release should be submitted when the partial release will not be issued within thirty (30) calendar days of the satisfying event.
3. ALS generates partial releases showing special wording to identify the partial release situation. In the unusual instance where a partial release must be manually prepared, the Form 668(Z) must identify the person being released and the special wording must be included. See Exhibit 5.12.3–2.

1. For bankruptcy cases, the name of the party to be released must be clearly identified and the body of the release should read: With respect to the liabilities of [Taxpayer B] only, the liabilities secured by the subject lien have been effectively discharged through United States Bankruptcy Court proceedings. This justifies the issuance of this certificate which releases the lien only insofar as it relates to [Taxpayer B] in the liability of [Taxpayer A and B]. The lien is not released as it relates to [Taxpayer A].
2. For OIC cases, the name of the party to be released must be clearly identified and the body of the release should read: With respect to the liabilities of [Taxpayer A] only, the liabilities secured by the subject lien have been satisfied. This justifies the issuance of this certificate which releases the lien only insofar as it relates to [Taxpayer A] in the liability of [Taxpayer A and B]. The lien is not released as it relates to [Taxpayer B].

Innocent Spouse Determinations

1. IRC § 6015 grants relief to a spouse when it is determined that he or she is not liable for all, or part, of a joint liability.
2. When a determination has been made that one spouse is not liable for the joint assessment, a partial release should be issued for the taxpayer who is not responsible for the liability.
3. Partial releases can be generated through ALS. Special wording is affixed to the generated document to clearly identify the innocent spouse.
4. In the rare instance where a partial release must be manually prepared, the person being released must be clearly identified in the name section and the following special wording must be included in the body of the Form 668(Z):

The conditions for release of the Notice of Federal Tax Lien against [Taxpayer A and B] have been met by [Taxpayer B]. This certificate releases the IRS's claim to property and rights to property as it pertains to the tax years identified above for [Taxpayer B] only.

Disposition of Certificate of Release

1. Form 668(Z) must be mailed or presented to the proper recording office to address the public record.
2. CLO has primary responsibility for transmitting lien documents to recording offices. See IRM 5.19.12.3.5, Printing and Mailing Documents for Recordation. As much as possible, lien releases should be processed through CLO.
3. In rare situations, a field employee may need to file a certificate of release. In doing so, the employee is responsible for paying the filing fee and subsequently claiming reimbursement on their travel voucher. The employee must also notify CLO within 4 calendar days of the release filing.
4. The payment of fees to file a certificate of release should be handled in the same manner as those for filing a NFTL.
5. A taxpayer may request to personally file the certificate of release. If a certificate of release is appropriate, prepare the Form 668(Z) and provide it to the taxpayer.

1. Include Notice 48 when transmitting the certificate to the taxpayer to file.
2. Ensure that the taxpayer is aware that they are responsible for paying the filing fee.
3. Advise the taxpayer that if they do not want to pay the filing fee, they can return the certificate of release and the IRS will file it following standard procedures.

Note:

When a taxpayer requests a certificate of release where the collection statute expired or there was a bankruptcy discharge, the taxpayer is responsible for filing.

• DC 1 - released
• DC 2 - withdrawal due to administrative error
• DC 3 - withdrawal due to collection due process appeal rights
• DC 4 - reversal
• DC 5 - self-released (statute expiration).

Note:

Do not input TC 583 for partial releases.

Problems with Recording Offices

1. The Service takes appropriate measures to ensure that lien releases are timely and properly issued. At times, however, problems are encountered in the filing process at the local recording office.
2. Generally, situations with recording offices are handled by CLO, but occasionally field assistance may be necessary.

Certificates of Release Not Found in Recording Office

1. Occasionally the certificate of release cannot be located by the recording office even though ALS shows that the release was issued. Requests for copies of releases are routinely received by CLO from taxpayers or their representatives, but sometimes are received by revenue officers.
2. The original copy of the certificate of release can be reprinted through ALS by CLO. Request CLO reissue the release to the recording office.

1. If the situation occurs where the original NFTL is no longer on ALS, request the taxpayer provide a copy of the NFTL from the recording office so that a release can be recreated. See CLO procedures in IRM 5.19.12.2.2, Loading Previously Recorded NFTLs to ALS.

Fraudulent Lien Certificate Recorded

1. Occasionally the IRS is contacted by a recording office or another third party to verify the validity of a lien certificate that was issued. Although unusual, situations may be found where the certificate was not authorized by the IRS.
2. Secure a copy of the document that was recorded and other relative information about the taxpayer's account.
3. Notify TIGTA of the situation.
4. Unless advised not to do so by TIGTA, contact the recording office to see if they can reverse their records regarding the release. Incorporate the assistance of Area Counsel as needed.
5. Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to file a revocation of the release and a new NFTL. Work with Advisory and Counsel on an appropriate remedy to the situation.

Erroneously Filed Notice of Federal Tax Lien

1. IRC § 6326 provides the right for a person against whom a NFTL has been filed to appeal for the release of the NFTL if they allege the filing was erroneous.
2. Reg § 301.6326-1 defines an erroneously filed NFTL as one which is filed during the presence of one of the following conditions:

• The tax liability was satisfied prior to the NFTL filing.
• The tax liability was assessed in violation of deficiency procedures in IRC § 6213.
• The tax liability was assessed in violation of a bankruptcy stay.
• The statute of limitations for collection expired prior to the filing of the NFTL.

Note:

Since Bankruptcy Code § 362(b)(9)(D) permits a governmental unit to assess a tax without a violation of the automatic stay occurring, there should be few, if any, situations when an assessment violates the automatic stay.

• may not be used to challenge the underlying deficiency leading to the encumbrance of the NFTL; and
• allows for appeal within one year after the taxpayer becomes aware of the erroneously filed NFTL

Administrative Appeals Under IRC § 6326

1. Advisory is responsible for making IRC § 6326 determinations.

Note:

Insolvency is responsible for making the determinations for situations identified during the course of working a bankruptcy case. The procedures in this section detailing Advisory’s role can be used interchangeably by Insolvency.

Note:

For cases involving bankruptcy, contact the Centralized Insolvency Operation (CIO) to determine the correct Insolvency caseworker assigned the case.

• be in writing;
• provide the taxpayer's name, current address and TIN;
• include a copy of the NFTL, if available;
• state the grounds on which the request is made (e.g., notice of deficiency was mailed to the wrong address, etc.);
• provide the canceled check or other evidence of payment, if liability satisfaction is claimed; and
• if applicable, provide information identifying the bankruptcy court, docket number, and petition date if a bankruptcy stay violation is claimed.

• identify the reason a final response is delayed;
• provide an approximate time when the final response will be mailed; and
• include the name, telephone number, and organizational code symbols for reference purposes as a contact point.

Note:

1. If requesting preparation on ALS by CLO, Advisory completes Form 13794, Request for Release or Partial Release of Notice of Federal Tax Lien, and checks "9 Erroneous Lien" in the field "How was the tax liability satisfied." The Form 13794 should be secure emailed to CLO with a request for a scanned copy of the release when printed.
2. If Advisory inputs the release directly to ALS, "Erroneous Lien" must be selected for the reason for release. Failure to select this reason will cause a regular release to be issued without the special wording.

1. Input the NFTL data on the ICS template of Form 668(Z) following standard procedures.
2. Line through the certification statement at the top of the form.
3. Insert the following wording in the body of the document:

"I certify that under the provisions of IRC Section 6326, the filing of the Notice of Federal Tax lien under IRC Section 6323 was erroneous. Therefore, the Notice of Federal Tax Lien for the taxes listed above has been released."

Note:

1. Partial releases can be done through ALS by following the steps in (7) above and identifying the party that should not be included on the NFTL.
2. If manual preparation is needed, Advisory enters the NFTL data on the Form 668(Z) template following standard procedures, lines through the certification statement at the top of the form, identifies the party to be released in the name line, and inserts the following wording in the body of the document:

"*With respect to the liabilities of Taxpayer B only, I certify that under the provisions of IRC Section 6326, the filing of the Notice of Federal Tax Lien under IRC Section 6323 was erroneous. Therefore, the Notice of Federal tax Lien for the taxes listed above is released only insofar as it relates to Taxpayer B in the liability of Taxpayers A and B. The lien is not released as it relates to Taxpayer A."

Note:

Note:

Input of TC 583 is only needed for manually-prepared and issued releases. For releases generated through ALS and processed by CLO, upload of the TC 583 is systemic.

1. Update the control record to reflect the nature, date of determination, and date of the certificate of release.
2. Reverse any CC STAUP on notice status accounts.

1. Manually prepare and issue an amended certificate of release that shows the proper wording; or
2. Request a withdrawal after release.

Note:

It is not necessary to secure a specific request for withdrawal from the taxpayer in this situation. The identification of the NFTL as erroneous is sufficient.

IRC § 6326 Appeals Referred to Examination

1. Appeals under IRC § 6326 that meet the appropriate criteria and pertain to the validity of the deficiency assessment, should be forwarded to Examination for evaluation. This includes requests involving Substitute for Return (SFR).
2. The referral should be made to Examination using Form 3449, Referral Report to Examination, addressed to "PSP Support" .

1. Identify on the top of the Form 3449 "Administrative Appeal of Lien" .
2. Submit related cases, to the extent possible, to Examination together.
3. Notate the CSED on the transmittal, Form 3449, for any case in which the period has less than 6 months to run.
4. Transmit each case with an imminent statute date under a separate Form 3449.
5. Identify the date of the referral to Examination on the control record for future follow-up. Forward Parts 1 and 2 to Examination with the appealing party’s request. Retain Part 3 for follow-up action.

Rescission of CDP Rights for Erroneous Lien

1. The Service may rescind a CDP notice properly issued under IRC § 6320(a) when certain conditions apply. See IRM 5.12.9.6.6, Rescission of CDP Rights for Withdrawals, for further details.
2. Rescission of the CDP notice is not necessary if the lien is released under IRC § 6326(b). If the tax has been satisfied, then the Service can no longer pursue collection and no NFTL can be filed in the future. If the underlying assessment is invalid, the taxpayer would be entitled to a new CDP notice when a new assessment is made and a new NFTL filed.

Erroneous NFTL in ID Theft Situation

1. When it has been determined that the liability(s) covered by the NFTL was assessed against the taxpayer due to an identity theft situation, the NFTL may be released as an erroneous NFTL filing.
2. The Advisory office where the taxpayer resides has primary responsibility for processing releases for NFTLs deemed erroneous due to ID theft.
3. Often, the ID theft situation is determined by the Automated Substitute for Return Program (ASFR) and Advisory is notified accordingly.

Note:

Procedures for the ASFR Unit to notify Advisory can be found in IRM 5.18.1.10.2.3.13.5, Identity Theft. ASFR completes Form 13794 to the best of their ability but they do not have access to ALS so certain data may not be available to them.

Note:

Upon the taxpayer's request, a partial release of erroneous NFTL may be issued if some, but not all, of the assessments on the NFTL are abated due to ID theft.

1. Manually prepare and issue an amended certificate of release that shows the wording for an erroneous NFTL release; or
2. Request a withdrawal after release.

Note:

It is not necessary to secure a specific request for withdrawal from the taxpayer in this situation. The identification of the NFTL as erroneous is sufficient.

Return Preparer Misconduct Situation

1. When it has been determined that the liability(s) covered by the NFTL was assessed against the taxpayer due to return preparer misconduct, the NFTL may be released as an erroneous NFTL filing.
2. The Advisory office where the taxpayer resides has primary responsibility for processing releases for NFTLs deemed erroneous due to return preparer misconduct.
3. Upon notification of the abatement determination, Advisory follows the procedures in IRM 5.12.3.9 , Erroneously Filed Notice of Federal Tax Lien, to issue the release of the erroneous NFTL. All NFTLs covering the impacted assessments, regardless of where the NFTLs were filed, should be addressed.
4. A release of erroneous NFTL should only be issued in this situation if all the assessments on the NFTL were impacted by the misconduct and the taxpayer does not owe for any of the assessments.

Note:

Upon the taxpayer's request, a partial release of erroneous NFTL may be issued if some, but not all, of the assessments on the NFTL are abated due to misconduct.

1. Manually prepare and issue an amended certificate of release that shows the wording for an erroneous NFTL release; or
2. Request a withdrawal after release.

Note:

It is not necessary to secure a specific request for withdrawal from the taxpayer in this situation. The identification of the NFTL as erroneous is sufficient.

Administrative Appeals Not Meeting IRC § 6326

1. Taxpayers have the right before and after the filing of the NFTL to exercise CAP rights and have CDP rights that arise with the filing of the NFTL. See IRM 5.12.6, Appeals Processes Involving Liens, for details. The guidance in this section does not circumvent those rights.
2. When a request is received challenging the validity of the NFTL but it does not meet the criteria of IRC § 6326 (e.g., questions the underlying assessment), review the request to see if other issues may be present that should be addressed.
3. Review the request in accordance with the following table:

Inadvertent NFTL Filing

1. When a NFTL is inadvertently filed and then subsequently released, provide the taxpayer with Letter 544-I, Letter of Apology - Inadvertent Lien Filing.
2. If the criteria for release of a NFTL that has been inadvertently filed are not present, consider withdrawal of the NFTL.
3. If an inadvertently filed NFTL has been released, consideration may also be given to withdrawing the NFTL, if a withdrawal request is submitted. See IRM 5.12.9.9, Requests for Withdrawal After the NFTL Has Been Released.

Civil Cause of Action Under IRC § 7432 for Failure to Release Lien

1. Under IRC § 7432 taxpayers have the right to sue the federal government for damages in federal district court if any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service knowingly or by reason of negligence, fails to release a lien.
2. Recovery is limited to actual, direct, economic damages sustained by the taxpayer which, but for the actions of the IRS, would not have been sustained, plus the costs of the action. Litigation and administrative costs (including costs of making a claim) cannot be recovered under IRC § 7432. (Treas. Regs. § 301.7432-1)
3. IRC § 7432(d)(1) requires that taxpayers must exhaust all administrative remedies available within the IRS prior to initiating a civil action in federal district court.
4. Taxpayers must:

• submit a written request for a release of the NFTL to the area office where the NFTL was filed or where the taxpayer currently resides; and
• submit an administrative claim for damages.

Administrative Claim Procedures

1. Treasury regulation 301.7432-1 details the administrative claim procedures of IRC § 7432.
2. There is no standard form used for preparing a claim; However, it must contain the following information:

• The name, current address, home and work telephone numbers, any convenient times to be contacted, and the taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer making the claim;
• A copy of the NFTL affecting the taxpayer’s property, if available;
• A copy of the request for the release of lien made in accordance with Treasury regulation 401.6325-1(f);
• The grounds, in reasonable detail, for the claim (include copies of any available substantiating documentation or correspondence with the Internal Revenue Service;
• A description of the damages incurred by the taxpayer filing the claim (including copies of any available substantiating documentation or evidence);
• The dollar amount of the claim, including any damages that have not yet been incurred but that are reasonably foreseeable (including copies of any available substantiating documentation or evidence); and
• The signature of the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s duly authorized representative.

Note:

This is not considered a rejection of the claim because a claim meeting the requirements of Treasury regulation 301.7432-1 has not been filed.

• a decision on the claim; or
• 30 calendar days after the filing of a processable claim.

Evaluation of Claim for Damages Under IRC § 7432

1. Date stamp the claim upon receipt. Advisory should complete the review within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt.
2. Open an Non-Field Other Investigation (NFOI) on ICS under 101 (Claim- Other) no longer than five (5) business days after receipt of the claim in the group. Review ICS closed files for any prior claims.
3. Address the following issues in determining if a claim is administratively allowable:

1. Should the IRS have released the NFTL under the provisions of IRC § 6325?
2. Did failure to release an outstanding NFTL against the taxpayer cause the taxpayer to sustain direct, economic damages?
3. Are any damages reducible by any amount that could have reasonably been avoided or mitigated by the taxpayer?
4. Has there been a finding under IRC § 6325(a)(1) that the liability for the amount assessed, together with all interest, has been fully satisfied or has become legally unenforceable? Such a finding is treated as made on the earlier of: the date the appropriate official makes this finding or the date on which the Service receives a request for a certificate of release of lien in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 301.7432-(f)2(iii), together with any information that is reasonably necessary to conclude that the lien has been fully satisfied or is legally unenforceable.

Note:

Negligence means the appropriate IRS employee failed to use due diligence, or act as a reasonable person would, to release the lien.

1. Claims filed more than two years after the violation must receive special scrutiny. This means that the violation occurred more than two years before the filing date of the claim. The taxpayer has two years in which to file a claim.
2. The taxpayer’s two-year limitation to bring suit begins at the point when the taxpayer has had a reasonable opportunity to discover all essential elements in a possible cause of action.
3. The reviewer must determine when the taxpayer knew or should have known of the IRS's failure to release the NFTL.
4. Claims filed outside the two year limitation are rejected.

1. The amount of the award is reduced by the amount of those damages which could have reasonably been lessened by the taxpayer.
2. Only actual, direct economic damages are recoverable in an administrative claim. No litigation or administrative costs are recoverable in an administrative claim. To the extent that any costs are recoverable under § 7432, such costs are recoverable only in a court proceeding.

Reimbursement of Damages and Costs for Failure to Release Lien Under IRC § 6325.

1. If an administrative claim is submitted to the approving official, Collection personnel involved with the filing or release of the NFTL may be asked to prepare a memo explaining the facts of the case. This should include any documentation which confirms or contradicts the taxpayer’s statements.
2. If a claim is approved, prepare the following:

• FMS Form 194, Judgment Fund Transmittal;
• FMS Form 195, Judgment Fund Payment Request (Admin. Award);
• FMS Form 196, Judgment Fund Award Data Sheet;
• FMS Form 197, Voucher for Payment of Judgments, Compromise Settlements and Administrative Awards; and
• FMS Form 198, Judgment Fund Award Data Sheet - Additional Deductions (complete this form only if appropriate).

Note:

Fillable versions of these forms are available at the Electronic Publishing website under product type "other gov." and search word "FMS" or at the FMS website at http://www.fms.treas.gov/judgefund/forms.html.

Revocation of Lien Release

1. IRC § 6325(a) provides that a lien shall be released when the liability has been satisfied or becomes unenforceable or a bond is accepted. See IRM 5.12.3.3 , Lien Release Conditions, for further details. Occasionally, a lien may be improperly released prior to the liability being resolved.
2. IRC § 6325(f)(2) provides for a revocation of a release of lien, and the reinstatement of the statutory lien, if it is determined that the period of limitation on collection after assessment has not expired and the release was issued:

• erroneously;
• improvidently; or
• in connection with a collateral agreement entered into in connection with a compromise under IRC § 7122 which has been breached.

1. A Form 668(Z), Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien, is issued; or
2. The lien "self-releases," i.e., the "Last Day for Refiling" on the NFTL passes and the NFTL is not refiled. See IRM 5.12.8, Notice of Lien Refiling.

Reminder:

Note:

Consult with Area Counsel if there are questions regarding litigation or specific collection actions that were in progress at the time of lien release.

Example:

A NFTL was filed on the taxpayer in County A for the 1040 income tax liabilities for 2003 and 2004. A NFTL was also filed for the same liabilities in County B. The CSED was extended on both liabilities. The NFTL was refiled in County A. The NFTL in County B was not refiled by the "Last Day for Refiling" shown on the NFTL, so the lien self-released. The self-release in County B released the statutory liens for the liabilities. Therefore, the NFTL in County A is no longer effective because the underlying statutory liens have been released.

• Form 12474, Revocation of Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien, when a Form 668(Z), Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien, was issued.
• Form 12474-A, Revocation of Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien, when a lien self-released.

• Multiple modules are included on the NFTL and, at the time of release, some, but not all, of the modules had been satisfied. The partial revocation document would list only those modules that still have a balance due.
• Multiple persons were liable for the assessment(s) and included on the NFTL and the statutory period of collection is still open on some, but not all, of the persons. The partial revocation document would list only those persons that are still liable for the balance due.

Caution:

A new NFTL in these circumstances is sometimes inaccurately referred to as a "refile." It is not a refiled NFTL. It is a new NFTL to replace the released NFTL. Do not use Form 668(F), Notice of Federal Tax Lien Refile, to reinstate a NFTL after revocation of release.

Note:

Although priority may be lost to competing liens - both those in existence when the federal tax lien was erroneously released and those coming into existence between the erroneous release date and the revocation/reinstatement date - it is nevertheless important to use the revocation and reinstatement procedures in order to correct the presumptive conclusive extinction of the lien under IRC § 6325(f)(1)(A), and prevent additional loss of priority when future competing liens arise, especially where significant property interests exist or are reasonably anticipated to come into existence during the life of the extended collection statute.

Requesting Revocation of Lien Release

1. Advisory has primary responsibility for approving revocations of erroneous lien releases. except for those pertaining to an on-going insolvency case or those related to a case actively assigned to Field Collection. See IRM 1.2.44.5, Delegation Order 5-4 (Rev. 3).
2. Upon identifying an erroneous lien release, research the liabilities secured by the NFTL to determine if a revocation of the release is appropriate. Factors to consider include:

• The amount of time left before the CSED (i.e., generally should be more than 6 months);
• The amount owed on the liabilities (i.e., generally should be more than $2500 for the NFTL); and
• Whether further collection actions are planned.

Note:

For on-going insolvency cases, other factors would need to be considered, including the appropriateness of filing a notice of revocation during an automatic stay. See IRM 5.9.17, Closing a Bankruptcy Case, for Insolvency procedures.

1. Specify the type of revocation needed—full or partial.
2. Provide the SLID of the NFTL involved and the recording data for the NFTL, if not already on ALS.

Note:

Revocations cannot be processed on ALS if the court recording information for the original NFTL filing has not been input. If ALS does not show court recording data for the NFTL, this information must be secured via internet research or by contacting the recording official and input to ALS before the revocation request is submitted.

1. Reviews the request and, if necessary, requests additional information from the originator.
2. Determines the legality of filing a notice of revocation and new NFTL.
3. Approves or disapproves the revocation request.
4. Controls the case on ICS under OI case code 193 (Lien & Levy Activity) and maintains a history of their review and decision on that system.

1. Input the revocation onto ALS following the instruction in the ALS User Guide.
2. Add a history item indicating the recording data for the release, if applicable, and the reason for the revocation. For partial revocations, the history entry should list the modules for which the revocation was issued.
3. Request immediate management approval of the revocation in the ALS Manager’s Release Queue.

Note:

1. The revocation must still be approved by the appropriate official.
2. IRM 5.12.7.4, Manual NFTL Preparation, details procedures for manually-filed notices of lien.
3. The originator is responsible for providing the taxpayer a copy of the revocation document.

Partial Revocations

1. Issue a partial revocation when:

• a release is issued in error on joint liabilities where one party remains liable for the tax;
• only some periods listed on the notice of lien are still valid; or
• a NFTL is not refiled timely on a specific period on a multiple period NFTL.

1. The form should be annotated "Partial Revocation" in the box titled. "For Optional Use by Recording Office."
2. The data on Form 12474 pertaining to the modules/names subject to revocation must match the data on the original NFTL exactly.

Use of Electronic Signatures on Revocations

1. Neither the IRC nor Treasury regulations address the method in which lien certificates are to be signed; however, they both address the Secretary’s authority to develop procedures associated with the use and acceptability of electronic signatures on forms and other documents.
2. Approval of documents must always be in accordance with IRM 1.2.44.5, Delegation Order 5-4 (Rev. 3).
3. Revocation documents may be signed by the approving official via electronic means when a physical signature is not feasible.

Note:

Revocations should normally be generated through the Automated Lien System (ALS). The electronic signature described in this section is only for situations where manually-prepared certificates are needed.

1. The signature should not contain the email address, logo, location or other unnecessary information.
2. The signature should preferably be an actual/graphic signature file of the approving official or at the minimum should show the name of the approving official. It should not be the Standard Employee Identifier (SEID) as that is for internal use only.
3. The approving official should validate the signature so that the pdf question mark does not appear.

1. Physical signature stamps are designated "High Security." Store signature stamps in accordance with IRM 10.2.15.3(i), Protected Items/Data, with reference to Exhibits 10.2.15-1 and 10.2.15-2. See also IRM 1.4.6, Managers Security Handbook.
2. All systems capable of reproducing electronic or PDF generated signatures for lien certificates must be official IRS computer systems and be password protected.
3. Ensure a record of approval is available for electronically generated, PDF generated, and stamped signatures.

Revocation of Multiple Erroneous Systemic Releases

1. On rare occasions, a systemic problem on ALS or its interface with Master File may possibly result in a batch of erroneous releases. The procedures contained in this section reflect general guidelines that may be used to resolve the situation, but the process may vary based on the number of NFTLs involved.
2. Determinations regarding necessary actions if such an event occurs requires teamwork of many functions, and may include:

• Collection Policy;
• Advisory;
• Insolvency;
• Automated Lien System; and
• Centralized Lien Operations.

• identify the erroneous releases; and
• determine the tax modules affected by the erroneous releases.

• Status of the taxpayer’s case (e.g., SC 26, 53, 72, etc.);
• Closing codes, if any, associated with the modules (e.g., TC 530 cc 08);
• CSEDs of the erroneously released modules; and
• Balances due of the erroneously released modules.

Note:

If the affected population of NFTLs cannot be isolated by ALS or the team, the erroneous releases may be worked on a case by case basis following the revocation procedures set forth in 5.12.3.14.1 above.

• SC 26 to Collection Field function.
• SC 71 to Offer In Compromise.
• SC 72, 89 to Advisory and Insolvency.

Reinstating the Statutory Lien

1. After a lien release has been revoked, the statutory lien may be reinstated by:

• mailing notice of the revocation to the last known address of the person against whom the tax was assessed, AND
• filing notice of the revocation in the same office(s) in which any related NFTL was filed.

Filing the Notice of Revocation

1. Notice of the revocation must be filed in all the same offices where the original NFTLs were filed, unless the state has since redesignated its filing office for the specific type of property. The Uniform Federal Lien Act of the state should be checked to confirm where to file the notice.
2. In the unlikely event that the notice of revocation cannot be filed in the office designated by State law, it is to be filed in the office of the clerk of the United States district court for the judicial district in the State office where NFTLs are filed.
3. When filing a notice of Revocation and a new Notice of Federal Tax Lien, documents must be recorded in the proper order to be valid. The notice of Revocation must be recorded prior to the new Notice of Federal Tax Lien.
4. Expenses related to the filing of the revocation document are borne by the government. The cost of subsequently filing a new NFTL is assessed to the taxpayer's account.

Re-establishing NFTL Priority

1. Reinstated liens are not valid against any lien or interest described in IRC § 6323(a) until a new NFTL has been filed subsequent to the time the reinstated lien became effective. The date of the new NFTL filing is the date from which priorities are determined as against IRC § 6323(a) interests.
2. The determination to file a new NFTL after the revocation should be made in accordance with standard procedures found in IRM 5.12.2, Notice of Lien Determinations. Filing of a new NFTL after revocation is not a requirement for the revocation process. Generally a new NFTL should not be filed if:

• legally precluded (e.g., taxpayer is under protection of bankruptcy court);
• precluded by policy (e.g., taxpayer is under jurisdiction of Appeals); or,
• it is determined that it is not in the government’s interest.

Note:

Prior to August 2011, new NFTLs filed after the original CSED date showed "N/A" in the Last Day for Refiling column.

1. Send a CDP notice (Letter 3172) if the erroneously released NFTL was filed before 01-19-1999, which was the effective date of IRC § 6320.
2. Send a CDP notice for tax periods added to the new NFTL that were not included on a previous NFTL.
3. If CDP rights were previously provided for all the tax periods, the taxpayer is not entitled to new CDP rights, nor are they entitled to equivalent hearings.
4. If a taxpayer's CDP rights are exhausted, CAP procedures may be exercised to appeal the new NFTL filing.

Release After Revocation When There Was No New NFTL

1. When a revocation of release was issued but a new NFTL was notfiled, the statutory lien is, nonetheless, reinstated.
2. When the liability is subsequently satisfied, whether by payment, adjustment, statute expiration or other event, a new certificate of release of lien is not required; however, one may be issued if requested by the taxpayer.
3. If it is determined that a certificate of release should be issued based on a taxpayer's request, take the following actions.

1. Manually prepare the certificate of release based on the original NFTL.
2. Provide the certificate of release directly to the taxpayer so they may record it as needed.

Designated Payment Codes (DPC) Related to Liens and Lien Certificates

1. IRM 5.1.2.8.1 provides detailed instructions on the use of designated payment codes and who may use them.
2. Generally, employees should use one of the following DPCs when posting a payment that is the direct result of a lien-related certificate:

• 07 - full or partial payoff of the NFTL

Note:

DPC 07 is used when the payment received is expressly for full or partial payoff of the NFTL, as evidenced by accompanying NFTL payoff letter (e.g., L-3640, L-3640A, L-3641), copy of the NFTL, or statement of the taxpayer or third party as documented in appropriate history.

Review of Lien Release Timeliness

1. On a regular basis, Collection Policy, with the assistance of CLO and other impacted functions, conducts a program review of lien releases to ensure the Service is in compliance with IRC § 6325(a).

Starting Points for 30-Day Release Time Frame

This chart is a general summation from specific program IRMs (e.g. 5.7; 5.8; 5.9; etc.). Consult the specific IRM sections for complete information on each program. Procedures in the specific IRMs supersede the information contained in this chart.

• payment terms of the OIC are completed
• amount due under terms of a Collateral Agreement, if due when OIC payment terms are complete, is paid
• it is verified there is no amount due on the Future Income Collateral (Note: only for cases where final deferral payment on OIC is within three months of the first year of collateral); or
• any assets required to be assigned to the Government have been turned over.

• resolution of the freeze condition posts to IDRS; or
• processing time frames to resolve the freeze condition as referenced in IRM have passed.

* Pursuant to IRC 6325, the thirty day time frame to release a lien is required in those situations where the liability is fully satisfied or has become legally unenforceable, or a bond is accepted for the collection of the liability. In other situations where these conditions are not met (e.g., bankruptcy discharge), the time frame to release a lien is a matter of policy. For example:

• the IRS has been notified of the discharge;
• the determination not to pursue exempt, abandoned, or excluded assets has been made;
• the determination is made to pursue exempt, abandoned, or excluded assets and collection actions against the assets are completed; or
• no other litigation actions are pending.

• the IRS has been notified that the plan has been completed and the court has discharged the case;
• the IRS has received final payment under the plan; or
• no other litigation actions are pending.

• the IRS has been notified that the plan has been completed and the court has discharged the case;
• the IRS has received final payment under the plan; or
• no other litigation actions are pending.