26 U.S.C. § 6323
Validity and priority against certain persons
The lien imposed by section 6321 shall not be valid as against any purchaser, holder of a security interest, mechanic’s lienor, or judgment lien creditor until notice thereof which meets the requirements of subsection (f) has been filed by the Secretary.
With respect to tangible personal property purchased at retail, as against a purchaser in the ordinary course of the seller’s trade or business, unless at the time of such purchase such purchaser intends such purchase to (or knows such purchase will) hinder, evade, or defeat the collection of any tax under this title.
With respect to household goods, personal effects, or other tangible personal property described in section 6334(a) purchased (not for resale) in a casual sale for less than $1,000, as against the purchaser, but only if such purchaser does not have actual notice or knowledge (A) of the existence of such lien, or (B) that this sale is one of a series of sales.
With respect to tangible personal property subject to a lien under local law securing the reasonable price of the repair or improvement of such property, as against a holder of such a lien, if such holder is, and has been, continuously in possession of such property from the time such lien arose.
With respect to real property subject to a lien for repair or improvement of a personal residence (containing not more than four dwelling units) occupied by the owner of such residence, as against a mechanic’s lienor, but only if the contract price on the contract with the owner is not more than $5,000.
With respect to a judgment or other amount in settlement of a claim or of a cause of action, as against an attorney who, under local law, holds a lien upon or a contract enforcible against such judgment or amount, to the extent of his reasonable compensation for obtaining such judgment or procuring such settlement, except that this paragraph shall not apply to any judgment or amount in settlement of a claim or of a cause of action against the United States to the extent that the United States offsets such judgment or amount against any liability of the taxpayer to the United States.
With respect to a savings deposit, share, or other account with an institution described in section 581 or 591, to the extent of any loan made by such institution without actual notice or knowledge of the existence of such lien, as against such institution, if such loan is secured by such account.
The term “qualified property”, when used with respect to a commercial transactions financing agreement, includes only commercial financing security acquired by the taxpayer before the 46th day after the date of tax lien filing.
The term “commercial financing security” means (i) paper of a kind ordinarily arising in commercial transactions, (ii) accounts receivable, (iii) mortgages on real property, and (iv) inventory.
A person who satisfies subparagraph (A) by reason of clause (ii) thereof shall be treated as having acquired a security interest in commercial financing security
The term “obligatory disbursement agreement” means an agreement (entered into by a person in the course of his trade or business) to make disbursements, but such an agreement shall be treated as coming within the term only to the extent of disbursements which are required to be made by reason of the intervention of the rights of a person other than the taxpayer.
The term “qualified property”, when used with respect to an obligatory disbursement agreement, means property subject to the lien imposed by section 6321 at the time of tax lien filing and (to the extent that the acquisition is directly traceable to the disbursements referred to in subparagraph (A)) property acquired by the taxpayer after tax lien filing.
In the case of real property, in one office within the State (or the county, or other governmental subdivision), as designated by the laws of such State, in which the property subject to the lien is situated; and
In the case of personal property, whether tangible or intangible, in one office within the State (or the county, or other governmental subdivision), as designated by the laws of such State, in which the property subject to the lien is situated, except that State law merely conforming to or reenacting Federal law establishing a national filing system does not constitute a second office for filing as designated by the laws of such State; or
In the office of the clerk of the United States district court for the judicial district in which the property subject to the lien is situated, whenever the State has not by law designated one office which meets the requirements of subparagraph (A); or
In the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia, if the property subject to the lien is situated in the District of Columbia.
In the case of real property, at its physical location; or
In the case of personal property, whether tangible or intangible, at the residence of the taxpayer at the time the notice of lien is filed.
The form and content of the notice referred to in subsection (a) shall be prescribed by the Secretary. Such notice shall be valid notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the form or content of a notice of lien.
The filing of a notice of lien shall be governed solely by this title and shall not be subject to any other Federal law establishing a place or places for the filing of liens or encumbrances under a national filing system.
Unless notice of lien is refiled in the manner prescribed in paragraph (2) during the required refiling period, such notice of lien shall be treated as filed on the date on which it is filed (in accordance with subsection (f)) after the expiration of such refiling period.
Notwithstanding paragraph (3), if the assessment of the tax was made before
The term “security interest” means any interest in property acquired by contract for the purpose of securing payment or performance of an obligation or indemnifying against loss or liability. A security interest exists at any time (A) if, at such time, the property is in existence and the interest has become protected under local law against a subsequent judgment lien arising out of an unsecured obligation, and (B) to the extent that, at such time, the holder has parted with money or money’s worth.
The term “mechanic’s lienor” means any person who under local law has a lien on real property (or on the proceeds of a contract relating to real property) for services, labor, or materials furnished in connection with the construction or improvement of such property. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a person has a lien on the earliest date such lien becomes valid under local law against subsequent purchasers without actual notice, but not before he begins to furnish the services, labor, or materials.
The term “motor vehicle” means a self-propelled vehicle which is registered for highway use under the laws of any State or foreign country.
The term “security” means any bond, debenture, note, or certificate or other evidence of indebtedness, issued by a corporation or a government or political subdivision thereof, with interest coupons or in registered form, share of stock, voting trust certificate, or any certificate of interest or participation in, certificate of deposit or receipt for, temporary or interim certificate for, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing; negotiable instrument; or money.
The term “tax lien filing” means the filing of notice (referred to in subsection (a)) of the lien imposed by section 6321.
For purposes of this subchapter, an organization shall be deemed for purposes of a particular transaction to have actual notice or knowledge of any fact from the time such fact is brought to the attention of the individual conducting such transaction, and in any event from the time such fact would have been brought to such individual’s attention if the organization had exercised due diligence. An organization exercises due diligence if it maintains reasonable routines for communicating significant information to the person conducting the transaction and there is reasonable compliance with the routine. Due diligence does not require an individual acting for the organization to communicate information unless such communication is part of his regular duties or unless he has reason to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be materially affected by the information.
Where, under local law, one person is subrogated to the rights of another with respect to a lien or interest, such person shall be subrogated to such rights for purposes of any lien imposed by section 6321 or 6324.
For purposes of this subchapter, a forfeiture under local law of property seized by a law enforcement agency of a State, county, or other local governmental subdivision shall relate back to the time of seizure, except that this paragraph shall not apply to the extent that under local law the holder of an intervening claim or interest would have priority over the interest of the State, county, or other local governmental subdivision in the property.
Upon written request by the taxpayer with respect to whom a notice of a lien was withdrawn under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall promptly make reasonable efforts to notify credit reporting agencies, and any financial institution or creditor whose name and address is specified in such request, of the withdrawal of such notice. Any such request shall be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe.
For inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Procedures listed in a table under section 1 of this title.
2017—Subsec. (i)(4)(B). Pub. L. 115–97 substituted “for ‘calendar year 2016’ in subparagraph (A)(ii)” for “for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B)”.
1998—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3435(a)(1)(A), substituted “$1,000” for “$250”.
Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3435(a)(1)(B), substituted “$5,000” for “$1,000”.
Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3435(b), in heading substituted “Deposit-secured loans” for “Passbook loans”, and in text struck out “, evidenced by a passbook,” after “other account” and substituted period at end for “and if such institution has been continuously in possession of such passbook from the time the loan is made.”
Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3435(a)(2), added par. (4).
Subsec. (j)(1)(D). Pub. L. 105–206, § 1102(d)(1)(A), substituted “National Taxpayer Advocate” for “Taxpayer Advocate” in two places.
1996—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 104–168 added subsec. (j).
1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11704(a)(26), substituted “Purchasers” for “Purchases” in heading.
Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 101–508, § 11317(b), substituted “10 years” for “6 years” wherever appearing.
1988—Subsec. (f)(1)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1015(s)(1)(A), inserted exception that State law merely conforming to or reenacting Federal law establishing a national filing system does not constitute a second office for filing as designated by the laws of such State.
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1015(s)(1)(B), added par. (5).
1986—Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 99–514 added par. (3).
1978—Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 95–600, § 702(q)(1), in heading substituted “Indexing required with respect to certain real property” for “Index” and in text inserted provisions relating to the validity of a deed, under the laws of the State in which the real property is located, as against a purchaser who does not have actual notice or knowledge of the existence of such deed and provisions relating to the maintenance of an adequate system for the public indexing of Federal tax liens.
Subsec. (g)(2)(A). Pub. L. 95–600, § 702(q)(2), inserted reference to real property.
1976—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2008(c)(1)(B), inserted introductory reference to par. (4).
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2008(c)(1)(A), added par. (4).
Subsec. (g)(2)(A), (B). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1906(b)(13)(A), 2008(c)(2), required the fact of refiling be entered and recorded in an index in accordance with subsec. (f)(4), and struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1202(h)(2), struck out par. (3) which related to a special rule respecting disclosure of amount of outstanding lien.
1966—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated as subsec. (a) that part of former subsec. (a) which preceded pars. (1) to (3) thereof, and, in subsec. (a) as so redesignated, substituted holder of a security interest, mechanic’s lienor, and judgment lien creditor for mortgagee, pledgee, and judgment creditor, struck out reference to an exception provided in subsecs. (c) and (d), and inserted reference to requirements of subsec. (f).
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 89–493 substituted the Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia for the clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of subsec. (c)(1) as subsec. (b)(1) and substituted “holder of a security interest” for “mortgagee and pledgee” and purchaser of such security interest for purchaser of such security for any adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of subsec. (d)(1) as subsec. (b)(2) and substituted purchaser of such motor vehicle for purchaser of such motor vehicle for an adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth and substituted actual notice or knowledge for notice or knowledge.
Subsec. (b)(3) to (10). Pub. L. 89–719 added pars. (3) to (10).
Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 89–719 added subsecs. (c) to (e).
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of former subsec. (a)(1) to (3) as subsec. (f)(1).
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 89–719 added par. (2).
Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of former subsec. (b) as subsec. (f)(3) and substituted provisions that the form and content of the notice be prescribed by the Secretary or his delegate for provisions limiting the effectiveness of the notice to situations in which the notice is in such form as would be valid if filed with the clerk of the United States district court when state or territory law fails to designate an office for the filing of notice.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 89–719 added subsec. (g).
Subsec. (h)(1), (2). Pub. L. 89–719 added pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of former subsec. (d)(2) as subsec. (h)(3).
Subsec. (h)(4). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of former subsec. (c)(2) as subsec. (h)(4).
Subsec. (h)(5), (6). Pub. L. 89–719 added pars. (5), (6).
Subsec. (i)(1), (2). Pub. L. 89–719 added pars. (1), (2).
Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 89–719 redesignated provisions of former subsec. (e) as subsec. (i)(3) and substituted “regulations” for “rules and relations”.
1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–272, § 236(c)(1), substituted “subsections (c) and (d)” for “subsection (c)”.
Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 88–272, § 236(a), added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after
Amendment by section 1102(d)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 105–206 effective
Pub. L. 105–206, title III, § 3435(c),
Pub. L. 104–168, title V, § 501(d),
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11317(c),
Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1015(s)(2),
Pub. L. 99–514, title XV, § 1569(b),
Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, § 702(q)(3),
Amendment by section 1202(h)(2) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective
Pub. L. 94–455, title XX, § 2008(d)(3),
Pub. L. 89–719, title I, § 114(a)–(c),
Pub. L. 89–493, § 21,
Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 236(d),