What Is a Levy vs. Lien and Garnishment with the IRS?
Dealing with the IRS can be overwhelming, especially when you're faced with serious enforcement actions like a levy, lien, or wage garnishment. These terms are often confused or misunderstood, but it's crucial to know the difference—and more importantly, how to avoid them through IRS debt relief options.
What Is a Tax Lien?
A tax lien is the IRS’s legal claim against your property when you fail to pay a tax debt. It doesn’t mean the IRS is taking your property yet, but it does secure their interest in your assets (like your home, car, or business). A lien can seriously damage your credit report, making it harder to sell or refinance your property.
🛑 A lien is a warning and a legal claim—not an immediate seizure.
What Is a Tax Levy?
A tax levy is far more serious than a lien. It is the actual seizure of your assets to satisfy a tax debt. This could include:
Wage garnishments
Bank account levies
Seizure of physical property
Social Security offsets
⚠️ A levy is the IRS taking your money or assets without further notice, once proper legal steps have been followed.
What Is Wage Garnishment?
Wage garnishment is one type of IRS levy where a portion of your paycheck is withheld by your employer and sent directly to the IRS to cover your tax debt. This can leave you with barely enough to cover your basic living expenses.
How IRS Debt Relief Can Help You Avoid These Actions
At P2P Consulting Services, we specialize in IRS Debt Relief solutions designed to stop these aggressive enforcement actions before they begin—or to get them lifted if they’ve already started.
Here’s how we help:
Immediate Communication with the IRS
We contact the IRS on your behalf to stop or delay levies and garnishments while we work on your case.Offer in Compromise (OIC)
You may qualify to settle your tax debt for less than you owe through this IRS program.Installment Agreements
We negotiate manageable monthly payment plans so you can pay your debt over time without fear of enforcement.Currently Not Collectible Status
If you're in financial hardship, we can help get your account marked as “uncollectible,” pausing IRS collections temporarily.Lien Subordination or Withdrawal
We work to reduce the impact of a lien on your credit or even have it removed under specific conditions.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
If you’ve received letters from the IRS about unpaid taxes, don’t ignore them. The sooner you act, the more options are available to resolve your debt and protect your income and assets.
📞 Contact P2P Consulting Services today to schedule your free 30-minute consultation. Let us help you take control before the IRS takes action.
