IRS lien on storefront I rent: What are my rights?

An IRS lien attaches only to the property that the taxpayer owns, so it should not attach to any property you or your business owns (especially since the landlord does not have an ownership interest in your business) -- so the IRS lien should not have a direct impact on your rental agreement with the landlord. Before you decide to rent another location, consider reviewing your lease agreement to see if the landlord's failure to stay current with his tax obligations gives you the right to terminate the lease (I doubt it). However, if the landlord is behind on his taxes then he may be neglecting the leasehold -- like failing to keep common areas clean or failing to maintain the building (improper lighting, failure to fix plumbing or AC problems). Such failure might give you the right to break the lease. If you breach the lease without having a right to do so, then the landlord may have the right to collect unpaid rent or sue you for breach of contract. Any comments posted on this site are for your general information and are not a substitute for professional legal representation. Please consult an attorney to adequately address your legal issue(s). Oscar Javier Ornelas 915-600-7286 [email protected]

Unless you bought the business from the owner and are leasing equipment, your risk is minimal. The IRS may send a Notice of Levy to you which would require you to make any payments to the IRS rather than the landlord. If that happens, you should immediately contact a tax attorney. You may also want to discuss this with the landlord if you are concerned. Good luck! Ron Cappuccio www.TaxEsq.com

I agree with the other two attorneys. You cannot be held liable for any of your landlord's taxes. The worst thing that could happen to you is that the IRS can enforce its lien on the real property (and the improvements thereto) by seeking to sell it, either at an administrative sale or a judicial sale (the latter sale is done following a tax collection lawsuit, after the U.S. obtains a judgment against the taxpayer). A sale of the property would obviously be a major hassle to you and force you to find new business premises to lease. The second worst thing that could happen to you is that the IRS can serve a Notice of Levy upon you, demanding that the rent that is otherwise due and owing be paid to it instead of to the taxpayer (your landlord). If you receive a Notice of Levy, you need to honor it. A third-party served with a levy notice who honors it is broadly "discharged from any obligation or liability to the delinquent taxpayer" with respect to the property surrendered or paid. I.R.C. Sec. 6332(e). Thus, you should not face any reprisals from the landlord (other than "bad blood") by honoring the levy.