What to Do If Your Business Is Padlocked for Unpaid Taxes

If your business has fallen behind on taxes in New York, you could face more than just collection letters. The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and, in some cases, the IRS, have the authority to physically shut down a business that fails to resolve its tax debts.

This is called a padlock action, and it means agents can show up without warning, change the locks, and post a seizure notice on your front door.

In this article, we’ll explain what a padlock action involves, who has the power to carry one out, what you can do if it happens to your business, and how to avoid it in the future.

Key takeaways

• A padlock means tax agents have physically shut down your business due to unpaid taxes, not just sent another notice.
• This typically happens after months of ignored filings, missed payments, or unanswered tax notices.
• Both the IRS and NY DTF have the legal authority to do this, but it’s more common in New York cases involving sales or payroll tax.
• The first thing you should do is contact a tax attorney who can deal with the IRS or DTF on your behalf.
• You may be able to request a temporary reopening while you work on resolving the issue.
• You might qualify for a payment plan or even a settlement for less than the full amount through an Offer in Compromise (OIC).
• If you believe the padlock was a mistake, you can challenge it, but there’s only a short window to file an appeal.

What Does It Mean When Your Business Is Padlocked?

If your business has been padlocked, you might not know what your options are. This isn’t just a warning or another payment notice in the mail. It means tax agents have physically shut down your business because of unpaid taxes.

This usually happens after multiple collection attempts go unanswered. Maybe you’ve fallen behind on sales or payroll taxes. Maybe the notices piled up or got pushed aside while you tried to keep the doors open. And because you didn’t take action, the state decided to escalate collections.

When that happens, agents may show up without advance warning, other than an Intent to Levy notice. They’ll change the locks, post a seizure notice, and shut down operations on the spot. You won’t be able to reenter your business premises or access your business assets until the issue is resolved.

It’s a challenging situation, but it’s not the end of the road. The next step is getting help and making a plan to fix the problem.

Who Can Legally Padlock Your Business?

First up, let’s talk about who can padlock your business. This action is usually the result of months, sometimes even years, of tax problems that didn’t get dealt with. By the time agents show up to physically shut down your business, things have become serious.

At that stage, you’re not just dealing with overdue taxes; you’re at risk of losing equipment, inventory, and whatever cash is left. The penalties and interest don’t stop either. They keep adding up every day that your business is closed.

Here’s who legally has the power to do this:

• New York Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF): In cases in New York, it’s the DTF behind the padlock. If you’re behind on sales tax or payroll withholding, and you’ve missed notices or failed to resolve a tax warrant, they can send agents to lock the doors.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The IRS can step in, too, but this is less often. When they do, it’s usually about serious payroll tax issues. Under federal law, the IRS can seize business assets through a levy. Physical padlocks are less common, but they are an option if the IRS believes that’s the most effective way to get your business assets.

If your business has been padlocked or you’re worried about it happening, don’t wait to reach out. You’ll need someone who can speak to the tax authorities, figure out what they’re willing to work with, and get your business back on its feet quickly.

What to Expect During a Padlock Action

Padlock action isn’t symbolic. If tax agents move forward with it, it means that your business has been physically shut down. Here’s what you can expect:

• Agents may show up without warning. Agents are legally allowed to show up at your place of business, and they don’t need an appointment. By this point, you should have received a final notice letting you know that asset seizure is coming, but you won’t get a notice letting you know if and when they’re coming to your business.
• They’ll change the locks and may post a seizure notice. If the agents are seizing your business assets, they will post a seizure notice on your business’ front door.
• You lose access to your space, equipment, and inventory. While your business is padlocked, you won’t have access to your assets. That includes anything inside the premises, such as computers, files, tools, and registers.
• Your business can no longer operate. You will not be able to re-enter or reopen your business until you have resolved the problem. You can face severe legal consequences for cutting the locks or “breaking in,” even though you own the place.
• Agents may start listing or removing inventory and assets. This step depends on the type of debt and how far enforcement has gone, but it is a possibility.
• Avoid entering or moving anything in the premises. Interfering with a state or federal seizure can lead to criminal charges. These actions may be considered tampering with evidence or an obstruction of justice.

The next move is to talk to someone who knows how to deal with this.

What to Do Immediately

The sooner you act, the better your chances of turning things around. However, it’s important you follow the right process to protect both yourself and your business. Here’s what to do:

• Call a tax attorney. A legal expert can communicate directly with the IRS or NY DTF on your behalf to begin resolving the case.
• Don’t attempt to re-enter or reopen the business. While you may be tempted to go inside your business premises, doing so may lead to criminal penalties.
• Gather your tax and financial records. Make sure you have all of your penalty notices, returns, payment history, and business bank statements to hand.
• Find out what you owe and what caused the action. If you are not already aware of what caused the business to be padlocked, now’s the time to find out. Was it a missed filing? A notice that got ignored? An error you didn’t realize? You need the facts.

You also need to determine if the business was locked by the IRS or the state, as your resolution options will differ depending on the agency.

What Are Your Resolution Options?

Getting padlocked feels like the end of your business, but it doesn’t have to be. When you work with a tax attorney, you still have options to move forward.

Let’s break them down:

Option 1: Ask to reopen the business temporarily

In some cases, you can ask the IRS or NY DTF to let you reopen while you work on a deal. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s worth trying, especially if being closed is costing you money.

Option 2: Work out a payment plan

If you can’t pay the full amount immediately, you might be able to break it into monthly payments. It won’t wipe out the debt, but this option may help you manage it.

Option 3: Try to settle for less

When things are bad enough financially, there’s a chance you can settle the debt for less than you owe. This is called an Offer in Compromise (OIC). It means that:

• You’re asking the government to accept less than you owe
• If they approve this, the rest of your debt will be erased permanently
• You’ll need to prove you can’t pay the full amount, even with more time

This process is complex, but a qualified tax attorney can improve your chances of success.

Option 4: Ask to pause the collection

Another option is to ask the debt to be marked as “currently not collectible.” That doesn’t erase anything, but it does stop the pressure for a while. In this case, your debt repayment will be paused until you’re in a better financial situation. Typically, this is not an option for businesses, but if the business has closed down and you’re facing personal liability for business taxes, you may want to consider this option.

Option 5: Appeal or request a hearing

Should you believe the government didn’t have the right to padlock your business, you can challenge it. But you have to move fast, as there’s a limited time to appeal or request a hearing.

If you’re dealing with the IRS, you’ll usually have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing. With the DTF, on the other hand, you may have up to 90 days to act. Appeals can be very tricky – talk with a tax attorney for guidance.

Long-Term Steps to Prevent Recurrence

Once you’ve reached a resolution, you need to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Here’s how to avoid this problem a second time.

Stay on top of your taxes.

Sales tax, payroll tax, income tax. Whatever taxes you’re responsible for, it’s important to keep things current. If you ever fall behind, don’t ignore the problem. Avoiding it makes things worse.

File, even if you can’t pay

Some business owners skip filing if they can’t afford the bill. But filing late, or not at all, is a mistake. By filing on time, at least you’re showing you’re trying, which may keep things from escalating.

Work with an accountant or bookkeeper.

When you’re finding it hard to balance things, a bookkeeper or payroll service can keep track of deadlines, catch small mistakes before they grow, and make the process easier.

Hire a tax attorney sooner, not later.

If you’re behind on your payments or you’ve received notices, bring in a Tax Attorney early. That move can be the difference between a bump in the road and a complete shutdown.

Final Thoughts: Act Fast and Protect Your Business

If the government has padlocked your business, you need to act quickly. Every day you wait, you could incur more penalties, more risk to your assets, and more damage to your reputation.

A qualified tax resolution attorney can deal with the IRS or NY DTF, help you understand your options, and work to protect what you’ve built.

Whether that means negotiating a payment plan, requesting relief, or pushing back on an enforcement mistake, having the right legal help is vital. Schedule a confidential case review with Timothy S. Hart Law Group, P.C. by calling us directly at (917) 382-5142 or (518) 213-3445. We’re here to help you take the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about what happens when your business is padlocked for unpaid taxes? Find the answers to some of the most common questions about business padlocking.

Note: This is meant as general guidance. Every case is different, and working with a tax attorney is the best way to get advice tailored to your specific situation.

How do I know if my business is at risk of being padlocked?

Your business may be at risk if you’ve fallen behind on paying taxes and haven’t responded to tax notices, bills, or collection efforts. The IRS or NY DTF will typically issue warnings first, but if those go unanswered, they can move forward with enforcement such as padlocking.

Is there any way to reopen the business while I work out a plan?

In some cases, this is an option, but it’s rarely straightforward. A tax attorney may be able to negotiate a temporary reopening agreement while you work on resolving the debt. This depends on the agency involved and the seriousness of your case.

Will the government take my equipment or inventory?

If the tax authority moves into the asset seizure phase, they may list or remove items from your business to satisfy the tax debt they believe you owe. This process doesn’t happen immediately in every case; however, it is a real risk.

When does the IRS seize business assets?

If you’re only a few months behind on payments or owe a relatively small amount, the IRS usually isn’t going to come and padlock your doors or take your equipment. The IRS does have the legal authority to seize property, but it doesn’t go there right away. It is usually a last resort.

What’s the first thing I should do if I’ve been padlocked?

Call a tax attorney right away. You should also gather all your tax records, including filings, payment history, notices, and business bank statements. This will help the attorney to help them assess the situation and start working on your behalf.