A Notice of State Tax Lien filed at a county Register of Deeds becomes a public record. Credit reporting agencies, legal news services and newspapers may obtain and publish the lien information. As a result, creditors may gain knowledge that the Michigan Department of Treasury has a claim against your property, including property you acquired after the lien was filed. Courts and financial institutions may use the lien to establish a claim/priority in certain situations, such as bankruptcy proceedings or during the sale of real estate.

Caution!
A tax lien will have a negative effect on your credit rating. You may not be able to obtain a loan to buy a house or a car, get a credit card, or sign a lease. A tax lien filed against an individual or business that is picked up by a credit reporting agency will remain a part of that credit history for the next 7 to 10 years. Therefore, it is important that the tax liability is resolved as quickly as possible before filing a lien becomes necessary.