Understanding how the State of Maryland collects unpaid taxes is essential for individuals and businesses seeking to resolve outstanding liabilities. Taxpayers who owe back taxes, have received a formal notice, or cannot pay in full must become familiar with the state's collection procedures to avoid escalation and additional enforcement actions.
The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, which serves as the state’s central tax collection authority, is empowered to recover unpaid taxes through various legal methods. These include wage garnishments, bank account levies, business or professional license holds, and the placement of liens on real or personal property. However, taxpayers retain certain rights throughout the process, including requesting an installment agreement, filing a formal appeal, or applying for an offer in compromise when eligible.
This guide provides a structured overview of Maryland’s tax collection process, including the state's initial steps, potential consequences for nonresponse, and available resolution options. Whether you are an individual wage earner, a small business owner, or a taxpayer responding to a recent notice, this resource is designed to help you understand your obligations and take informed, timely action to achieve compliance.
As the state's chief financial officer, the Maryland Comptroller oversees the state's tax collection and enforcement operations. The office collects taxes from individuals, companies, and other entities. Taxpayers must comply with Maryland tax laws, file their returns, and pay their debts.
The Comptroller's Office ensures that the state receives the money it needs, that taxpayers can pay off their debts, and that they avoid additional penalties.
Overdue tax claims for Maryland are lengthy and complicated processes in stages. They start by letting the taxpayer know, but the taxpayer doesn't respond because they don't know, care, or want to. The taxpayer can avoid the fees, penalties, and interest that come with the later stages of a tax claim by using the layers correctly up until the tax claim.
The Comptroller's Office sends an initial notice when it discovers a tax issue, such as an unpaid balance or a missing tax return. Taxpayers can respond to this notice, which informs them of the remaining tax they owe, before the situation worsens.
Taxpayers may receive this notice for the following reasons:
With this first notice, Maryland's tax collection process officially begins. To resolve or dispute the balance, taxpayers should carefully review the details, confirm the bill, and take appropriate action.
If the taxpayer does not reply to the initial notice, the Comptroller's Office sends a formal Notice of Assessment. In addition to informing the taxpayer of their debt, this letter serves as a warning that legal action may be taken if the problem is not fixed.
Typically, the evaluation consists of notifying the taxpayer
The taxpayer still has time to pay the full amount, request an appeal, or apply for a payment plan before the account is referred for collections.
If nothing is done following the Notice of Assessment, the matter is referred to the Collections Section. The Comptroller's staff might call the taxpayer or send additional letters pleading with them to resolve the issue.
Depending on their circumstances, taxpayers should use the relevant contact information:
At this stage, taxpayers can still qualify for installment agreements, submit offers in compromise, or explore other resolution options. Acting promptly is crucial to preventing enforcement actions like wage garnishments or bank levies.
The Comptroller of Maryland can take different steps to collect the full amount owed if a taxpayer does not pay their taxes. These tools enforce adherence to rules, and disregarding them may result in significant legal or financial issues.
When taxes remain unpaid, the Comptroller may file a tax lien in the circuit court where the taxpayer lives or operates a business. This lien becomes a matter of public record and gives the state a legal claim over the taxpayer’s property.
A filed tax lien can:
If the lien remains unresolved, the Comptroller’s Office may issue attachments that authorize sheriffs to seize assets such as business equipment, real estate, vehicles, and cash on business premises.
The Comptroller’s Office can collect unpaid taxes by garnishing taxpayers' wages or freezing bank accounts. These enforcement methods are commonly used when taxpayers do not respond to notices or fail to set up a payment plan.
Maryland participates in state and federal refund offset programs that automatically apply taxpayer refunds to outstanding tax debt.
These intercepts may include:
Taxpayers in active payment plans may still have refunds intercepted, unless a specific agreement prevents it.
When a tax debt remains unpaid, the Comptroller may place holds or initiate revocation proceedings on various licenses issued by state agencies.
These holds are typically lifted once the taxpayer enters a formal resolution agreement or pays the due amount.
The Comptroller’s Office publishes a list of delinquent taxpayers through a program called “Caught in the Web.” This list displays the names and tax liability amounts of individuals and businesses that owe significant unpaid taxes.
This public disclosure aims to pressure noncompliant taxpayers to settle their debt and discourage others from ignoring their tax obligations.
Maryland taxpayers have legal rights that protect them during the tax collection process. These rights provide opportunities to challenge assessments, request representation, and pause specific collection actions while appeals are underway.
Taxpayers can dispute a tax bill or assessment issued by the Comptroller’s Office. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the notice being mailed.
Taxpayers can appoint an authorized representative to act on their behalf during the appeals or collections process.
If a taxpayer files a timely appeal, the Comptroller’s Office may temporarily hold collection activity for the tax periods.
Taxpayers can resolve disputes promptly by exercising their appeal rights before the agency takes harsher actions.
Maryland business owners are subject to the same tax enforcement procedures as individuals, but specific rules apply to companies and their officers. The Comptroller’s Office holds businesses and responsible employees accountable for unpaid taxes, especially trust fund taxes like sales and withholding.
Maryland law allows the state to hold certain corporate officers personally liable for unpaid business debts. This provision is especially relevant for taxes collected from customers or employees, such as officers, and the use of taxes and employer withholding.
This policy ensures that individuals controlling business finances cannot avoid responsibility by hiding behind a company structure.
Businesses with unresolved tax debt may face the suspension or revocation of state-issued licenses. This includes licenses required to operate legally, such as
The Comptroller may issue a summons requiring the business to appear and show cause for continued operation. The business loses its ability to conduct taxable activity in Maryland if it fails to resolve the debt or present a valid defense.
Filing for bankruptcy does not automatically eliminate Maryland tax obligations. Even after filing for bankruptcy, the state often pursues unpaid taxes.
Business owners and officers must understand these risks and take action early to avoid severe financial consequences.
The Offer in Compromise (OIC) Program allows eligible taxpayers to settle their Maryland tax debt for less than the full amount owed. This option is best suited for taxpayers who lack the financial resources to pay their liability in full and can demonstrate hardship or inability to pay.
Before submitting an offer in compromise, the taxpayer must meet specific conditions:
Failure to meet these conditions will result in automatic rejection of the offer.
To apply for the program, taxpayers must complete and submit the following forms:
Applications can be submitted electronically to oic@marylandtaxes.gov for faster processing. The Comptroller’s Office evaluates each case based on
The OIC program has strict limitations:
Taxpayers considering an offer in compromise should be fully prepared to support their request with detailed financial records and be committed to long-term compliance.
If you can't pay your Maryland taxes in full immediately, the Comptroller's Office has payment plans that let you pay off your debt over time. Acting quickly to set up a payment plan can help you avoid serious enforcement actions.
Paying the entire balance due as soon as you receive a notice provides essential advantages:
If immediate full payment is impossible, you can request an installment agreement. This allows you to pay in smaller amounts over time.
Establishing a payment plan early reduces the likelihood of aggressive enforcement actions.
Taxpayers can also use the state’s digital platform to manage their accounts and make secure payments.
Through the Maryland Taxes Online Services portal, you can:
Online services provide faster processing and reduce the risk of missed deadlines or miscommunication.
Not responding to tax notices or unpaid debts can have serious and long-lasting consequences. Interest, penalties, and enforcement actions will likely increase as time passes. Ignoring Maryland's tax collection processes can expose individuals and businesses to financial and legal dangers.
When the Comptroller’s Office files a tax lien in court, it becomes a public record that appears on the taxpayer’s credit report. This can:
Credit reporting agencies may retain lien information for several years, allowing these consequences to persist even after the debt resolution.
Non-compliance has even more extensive repercussions for businesses:
Permanent closure, layoffs, or lost revenue are possible outcomes of these disruptions.
When licensed professionals have unpaid taxes, they are also at risk:
By responding quickly, taxpayers can avoid these long-lasting effects and keep their finances and careers under control.
This guide is mainly about Maryland's state-level collection efforts. Still, it's helpful to know how they relate to federal protections—the IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights lists ten fundamental rights for taxpayers. Many state agencies, including the Comptroller's Office, use it as a model.
These federal rights include:
Maryland's tax collection process incorporates many of these same ideas. For example, the state lets people appeal assessments, offers an installment plan, and allows people to join the Maryland Offer in Compromise program. Knowing your rights under state and federal law will help you address tax problems fairly and confidently.
When the Comptroller's Office in Maryland finds a tax return that hasn't been filed or a tax debt that hasn't been paid, it starts collecting taxes. The Comptroller's Office sends the taxpayer a letter informing them how much they owe, including penalties, interest, and other applicable fees. If the taxpayer doesn't respond or pay the bill, the agency can take steps to collect the debt, like a levy, lien, or wage garnishment.
Yes, taxpayers who can't pay their taxes all at once can call the Comptroller's Office and ask for a payment plan, which is also called an installment agreement. The agency will look at your monthly income, account balance, and ability to pay. These agreements help taxpayers repay their debts over time and avoid harsher actions to collect them. It's best to file early and keep up with your plan's required payments and taxes in the future.
If you ignore a tax notice, the government may take more severe action. The Comptroller's Office can charge interest, impose penalties, or take action like a lien, levy, or wage garnishment. The longer the debt remains unpaid, the more difficult and expensive it becomes to resolve. Taxpayers who owe back taxes should act quickly by submitting the appropriate form, contacting the agency, and exploring options such as compromise or installment agreements.
Yes, Maryland works with the IRS on programs that offset refunds. The state can take that money if the IRS sends a federal tax refund to taxpayers who owe Maryland taxes. The Comptroller's Office can still apply the rebate to the taxpayer's account for the full amount owed, even if the taxpayer is on a payment plan. Refunds can be collected until the debt is paid off or settled.
If taxpayers can't pay the full amount they owe, they may be able to get an offer in compromise (OIC). To see eligibility, the Comptroller's Office looks at taxpayers' financial records, like their monthly income, assets, and debts. Some taxpayers can choose this option and pay less than the full amount they owe. However, people in an open bankruptcy case cannot make a compromise offer.
If you get a bill for a past tax year, check the information on the notice against your tax return. The IRS or your failure to file may have caused the Comptroller's Office to change your account. To fix the problem, you should respond immediately, ask for clarification, and either pay the bill or dispute it. Delayed action may result in penalties or enforcement measures.
The Comptroller's Office may garnish your employer's wages to collect unpaid taxes. The state may order your employer to withhold a portion of your wages if you don't reply to a notice or make required payments. Garnishment will continue until the entire sum—including interest and penalties—is retrieved. Taxpayers should contact the agency to prevent wage garnishment and set up a payment schedule.