LAC 61:I.5302 — Issuance and Cancellation of a Lien; Fees

A. A tax lien shall be filed on liabilities when the tax due involves a jeopardy assessment pursuant to R.S. 47:1566.
B. A tax lien may be filed on liabilities when any of the following conditions exist:
1. when liabilities reach warrant for distraint status;
2. information is received indicating the taxpayer is on the verge of bankruptcy;
3. a corporation is in the process of dissolving or withdrawing from the state;
4. the filing history of the taxpayer indicates an effort to avoid the payment of taxes;
5. information indicates that the taxpayer is in the process of selling movable or immovable property;
6. warrants are determined currently not collectible; or
7. a formal installment agreement has been negotiated with the taxpayer.
C. The secretary may authorize the release of a lien subject to the following terms and conditions:
1. when the tax, penalty, fees, or interest secured by a recorded lien have been paid;
2. when the taxpayer executes a surety bond in favor of the secretary in an amount not less than one and one-half times the amount of the obligation due, including penalties, interest, and other costs incurred. The surety bond must be issued by a surety company qualified to do business in Louisiana;
3. when the lien on the taxpayer's remaining real property is valued at not less than the amount of the remaining tax obligation, including all penalties, interest, and other costs incurred, plus the amount of all prior liens on the remaining property;
4. when the amount paid to the secretary in partial satisfaction of the liability is not less than the value of the interest of the state of Louisiana in the part of the property to be released or the secretary determines that the interest of the state of Louisiana in the part to be released has no value.
D. The secretary with the approval of two assistant secretaries may compromise any judgments for taxes of $500,000 or less exclusive of interest and penalty, including assessments for such amounts that are equivalent to judgments, when any of the following conditions exist:
1. there is serious doubt as to the collectibility of the outstanding judgment;
2. there is serious doubt as to the taxpayer's liability for the outstanding judgment;
3. the administration and collection costs involved would exceed the amount of the outstanding liability.
E. The secretary may, upon making a record of his reasons, waive, reduce, or compromise individual income tax, penalties, interest, or other amounts.
F. Offers in Compromise
1. A taxpayer may have only one offer in compromise approved in a 10-year period. If an offer in compromise is approved, the secretary shall not consider or accept any other application for an offer in compromise from the taxpayer until the expiration of the 10-year period.
2. Each application for an offer in compromise shall be made on a form and in the manner prescribed by the secretary. A nonrefundable application fee of $186 payable to Louisiana Department of Revenue shall be submitted with each application. The application fee shall not be applied to the tax liability.
3. A nonrefundable initial payment of 20 percent of the amount offered must be submitted with the offer in compromise application. This payment shall be applied to the tax liability.
4. The secretary shall keep a record of all such offers in compromise which shall be open to public inspection and, notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 47:1508 and 1508.1, shall be published in the department’s annual report.
G. The department shall assess a fee against the taxpayer for the filing of a tax lien and the cancellation of a lien. The amount of the fee to be assessed against the taxpayer shall be determined according to the amount charged the department by the parish in which the lien is filed. In the event a lien is filed in more than one parish for the same taxes, each lien shall be treated separately and the total charges per parish for the liens shall be assessed against the taxpayer.