Tax warrants
A tax warrant is equivalent to a civil judgment against you, and protects New York State's interests and priority in the collection of outstanding tax debt. We file a tax warrant with the appropriate New York State county clerk’s office and the New York State Department of State, and it becomes a public record. A filed tax warrant creates a lien against your real and personal property, and may:
- allow us to seize and sell your real and personal property,
- allow us to garnish your wages or other income,
- affect your ability to buy or sell property, or
- affect your ability to obtain credit.
To search for a tax warrant, visit the New York State Department of State's Tax Warrant Notice System.
Questions about a child or combined child and spousal support warrant? See How do I resolve a child or combined child and spousal support warrant for more information.
What happens
If you fail to timely resolve your tax debt, your past due tax debt becomes fixed and final and we may file a tax warrant against you. Before we file a tax warrant, we will send you notice of the debt, and give you an opportunity to resolve it.
When we file a tax warrant, we send you a copy of the warrant. If you fail to resolve your warranted balance, we will proceed with further collection action.
If your total warranted balance is paid in full, we will send the county clerk a Satisfaction of Judgment stating your warranted debt has been paid in full. The clerk will file the Satisfaction of Judgment, and we will send you a copy. You should retain this copy for your records. We will also notify the Department of State that the tax warrant has been satisfied.
How to resolve
You must pay your total warranted balance in full to satisfy your tax warrant. If you can’t pay your tax debt in full, you may be able to set up an installment payment agreement (IPA) to prevent additional collection action. If you set up an IPA, the warrant will remain on file and continue to be a lien on your real and personal property until your total warranted balance is paid in full.
Request proof your warrant has been paid in full
If you need proof that your warrant has been paid in full, we can send you one of the following:
Call us at 518-457-5893 during regular business hours and speak with a representative to request we send proof your warrant has been paid in full, or if you have other questions related to a tax warrant. Be sure to enter your taxpayer ID number when prompted.
If we have filed a tax warrant against you, and you are selling your property or attempting to obtain a loan using your property as collateral, see Release or subordination of lien.
Questions about your credit report? See How do I remove a warrant from my credit report for more information.