Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110
§6325 Release of Lien or Discharge of Property
Title 26 › Subtitle F — Procedure and Administration › CHAPTER 64 — COLLECTION › Subchapter C — Lien for Taxes › PART II — LIENS › § 6325
Summary
The Secretary must issue a certificate that releases a tax lien within 30 days when the tax and interest are fully paid or become legally unenforceable, or when the taxpayer gives a bond the Secretary accepts that promises to pay under rules the Secretary sets. The Secretary can also issue certificates that discharge (free) part of the property from a lien if certain tests are met: the part left under the lien is worth at least double the unpaid tax plus higher‑priority liens; or the owner pays an amount at least equal to the United States’ interest in that part, or the United States’ interest is found to be worthless; or the part is sold and the sale money is held under an agreement that preserves the government’s liens and priority; or the owner deposits money or posts an acceptable bond equal to the government’s interest. Deposits are refunded, with interest at the overpayment rate under section 6621, if the Secretary later finds the tax can be satisfied from another source or the value was overstated. If no court action under section 7426(a)(4) is filed in time, the Secretary must, within 60 days after that deadline, use the deposit to pay what is needed and refund any leftover amount with interest. The Secretary may also put the government’s lien behind (subordinate) another lien if paid, if doing so should increase what the government can collect, or in certain estate-tax cases. If a lien notice wrongly appears to affect someone else, the Secretary can issue a certificate saying the lien does not attach to that person’s property. When a certificate is filed where the original lien notice was filed, it is conclusive: a release cancels the lien; a discharge frees the listed property; a subordination makes the other claim superior; and a nonattachment shows the lien does not cover that person’s property. The Secretary can revoke a release or nonattachment if it was issued by mistake or under a breached compromise, so long as the time limit to collect the tax has not expired; revocation takes effect when mailed and filed. If a person who owed the tax reacquires property after a discharge, the lien will attach again. If the state filing office won’t accept the certificate, it is effective if filed with the clerk of the U.S. district court for that district. Rules about bonds are in chapter 73 (sec. 7101 and following).
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §6325
Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Release of lien
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary shall issue a certificate of release of any lien imposed with respect to any internal revenue tax not later than 30 days after the day on which—
(1)Liability satisfied or unenforceable
The Secretary finds that the liability for the amount assessed, together with all interest in respect thereof, has been fully satisfied or has become legally unenforceable; or
(2)Bond accepted
There is furnished to the Secretary and accepted by him a bond that is conditioned upon the payment of the amount assessed, together with all interest in respect thereof, within the time prescribed by law (including any extension of such time), and that is in accordance with such requirements relating to terms, conditions, and form of the bond and sureties thereon, as may be specified by such regulations.
(b)Discharge of property
(1)Property double the amount of the liability
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may issue a certificate of discharge of any part of the property subject to any lien imposed under this chapter if the Secretary finds that the fair market value of that part of such property remaining subject to the lien is at least double the amount of the unsatisfied liability secured by such lien and the amount of all other liens upon such property which have priority over such lien.
(2)Part payment; interest of United States valueless
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may issue a certificate of discharge of any part of the property subject to the lien if—
(A)there is paid over to the Secretary in partial satisfaction of the liability secured by the lien an amount determined by the Secretary, which shall not be less than the value, as determined by the Secretary, of the interest of the United States in the part to be so discharged, or
(B)the Secretary determines at any time that the interest of the United States in the part to be so discharged has no value.
In determining the value of the interest of the United States in the part to be so discharged, the Secretary shall give consideration to the value of such part and to such liens thereon as have priority over the lien of the United States.
(3)Substitution of proceeds of sale
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may issue a certificate of discharge of any part of the property subject to the lien if such part of the property is sold and, pursuant to an agreement with the Secretary, the proceeds of such sale are to be held, as a fund subject to the liens and claims of the United States, in the same manner and with the same priority as such liens and claims had with respect to the discharged property.
(4)Right of substitution of value
(A)In general
At the request of the owner of any property subject to any lien imposed by this chapter, the Secretary shall issue a certificate of discharge of such property if such owner—
(i)deposits with the Secretary an amount of money equal to the value of the interest of the United States (as determined by the Secretary) in the property; or
(ii)furnishes a bond acceptable to the Secretary in a like amount.
(B)Refund of deposit with interest and release of bond
The Secretary shall refund the amount so deposited (and shall pay interest at the overpayment rate under section 6621), and shall release such bond, to the extent that the Secretary determines that—
(i)the unsatisfied liability giving rise to the lien can be satisfied from a source other than such property; or
(ii)the value of the interest of the United States in the property is less than the Secretary’s prior determination of such value.
(C)Use of deposit, etc., if action to contest lien not filed
If no action is filed under section 7426(a)(4) within the period prescribed therefor, the Secretary shall, within 60 days after the expiration of such period—
(i)apply the amount deposited, or collect on such bond, to the extent necessary to satisfy the unsatisfied liability secured by the lien; and
(ii)refund (with interest as described in subparagraph (B)) any portion of the amount deposited which is not used to satisfy such liability.
(D)Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the owner of the property is the person whose unsatisfied liability gave rise to the lien.
(c)Estate or gift tax
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may issue a certificate of discharge of any or all of the property subject to any lien imposed by section 6324 if the Secretary finds that the liability secured by such lien has been fully satisfied or provided for.
(d)Subordination of lien
Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may issue a certificate of subordination of any lien imposed by this chapter upon any part of the property subject to such lien if—
(1)there is paid over to the Secretary an amount equal to the amount of the lien or interest to which the certificate subordinates the lien of the United States,
(2)the Secretary believes that the amount realizable by the United States from the property to which the certificate relates, or from any other property subject to the lien, will ultimately be increased by reason of the issuance of such certificate and that the ultimate collection of the tax liability will be facilitated by such subordination, or
(3)in the case of any lien imposed by section 6324B, if the Secretary determines that the United States will be adequately secured after such subordination.
(e)Nonattachment of lien
If the Secretary determines that, because of confusion of names or otherwise, any person (other than the person against whom the tax was assessed) is or may be injured by the appearance that a notice of lien filed under section 6323 refers to such person, the Secretary may issue a certificate that the lien does not attach to the property of such person.
(f)Effect of certificate
(1)Conclusiveness
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), if a certificate is issued pursuant to this section by the Secretary and is filed in the same office as the notice of lien to which it relates (if such notice of lien has been filed) such certificate shall have the following effect:
(A)in the case of a certificate of release, such certificate shall be conclusive that the lien referred to in such certificate is extinguished;
(B)in the case of a certificate of discharge, such certificate shall be conclusive that the property covered by such certificate is discharged from the lien;
(C)in the case of a certificate of subordination, such certificate shall be conclusive that the lien or interest to which the lien of the United States is subordinated is superior to the lien of the United States; and
(D)in the case of a certificate of nonattachment, such certificate shall be conclusive that the lien of the United States does not attach to the property of the person referred to in such certificate.
(2)Revocation of certificate of release or nonattachment
If the Secretary determines that a certificate of release or nonattachment of a lien imposed by section 6321 was issued erroneously or improvidently, or if a certificate of release of such lien was issued pursuant to a collateral agreement entered into in connection with a compromise under section 7122 which has been breached, and if the period of limitation on collection after assessment has not expired, the Secretary may revoke such certificate and reinstate the lien—
(A)by mailing notice of such revocation to the person against whom the tax was assessed at his last known address, and
(B)by filing notice of such revocation in the same office in which the notice of lien to which it relates was filed (if such notice of lien had been filed).
Such reinstated lien (i) shall be effective on the date notice of revocation is mailed to the taxpayer in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A), but not earlier than the date on which any required filing of notice of revocation is filed in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (B), and (ii) shall have the same force and effect (as of such date), until the expiration of the period of limitation on collection after assessment, as a lien imposed by section 6321 (relating to lien for taxes).
(3)Certificates void under certain conditions
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, any lien imposed by this chapter shall attach to any property with respect to which a certificate of discharge has been issued if the person liable for the tax reacquires such property after such certificate has been issued.
(g)Filing of certificates and notices
If a certificate or notice issued pursuant to this section may not be filed in the office designated by State law in which the notice of lien imposed by section 6321 is filed, such certificate or notice shall be effective if filed in the office of the clerk of the United States district court for the judicial district in which such office is situated.
(h)Cross reference
For provisions relating to bonds, see chapter 73 (sec. 7101 and following).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 105–206 added par. (4). 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–248 in introductory provisions substituted “shall issue” for “may issue” and “not later than 30 days after the day on which” for “if”. 1978—Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 95–600 added par. (3). 1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing. 1966—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 89–719 added par. (3). Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 89–719 added subsecs. (d) and (e). Former subsecs. (d) and (e) redesignated, with
Amendments
, as subsecs. (f)(1) and (h), respectively. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated as par. (1) provisions formerly constituting subsec. (d), inserted reference to exceptions provided in pars. (2) and (3) and reference to the filing of the certificate in the same office as the notice of lien to which it refers and expanded the types of certificates to include separate certificates of release, discharge, subordination, and nonattachment, and added pars. (2) and (3). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 89–719 added subsec. (g). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated as subsec. (h) provisions formerly constituting subsec. (e) and struck out cross references for single bonds, suits to enforce liens, and suits to clear title to realty. 1958—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 85–866, § 77(1), substituted “or” for “,” after “satisfied” and struck out “, or, in the case of the estate tax imposed by chapter 11 or the gift tax imposed by chapter 12, has been fully satisfied or provided for” after “unenforceable”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 85–866, § 77(2), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 85–866. § 77(2), (3), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d) and in heading and text struck out “partial” before “discharge”. Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 85–866, § 77(2), redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1998 Amendment Pub. L. 105–206, title III, § 3106(c), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 734, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 6503 and 7426 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [July 22, 1998].”
Effective Date
of 1982 Amendment Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 348(b), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 638, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to liens— “(1) which are filed after
December 31, 1982, “(2) which are satisfied after
December 31, 1982, or “(3) with respect to which the taxpayer after
December 31, 1982, requests the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to issue a certificate of release on the grounds that the liability was satisfied or legally unenforceable.”
Effective Date
of 1978 Amendment Pub. L. 95–600, title V, § 513(b), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2883, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to the estates of decedents dying after December 31, 1976.”
Effective Date
of 1966 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 89–719 applicable after Nov. 2, 1966, regardless of when title or lien of United States arose or when lien or interest of another person was acquired, with certain exceptions, see section 114(a)–(c) of Pub. L. 89–719, set out as a note under section 6323 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1958 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 85–866 effective Aug. 17, 1954, see section 1(c)(2) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 165 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 6325
Title 26, Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110