Do You Owe the IRS Taxes? If Yes, You May Have Trouble With Your Passport!
A law passed in December 2015, requires the IRS to notify the State Department of taxpayers the IRS has certified as owing a seriously delinquent tax debt, which is $52,000 or more.
The law also requires State to deny their passport application or renewal. If a taxpayer currently has a valid passport, the State Department may revoke the passport or limit ability to travel outside the United States.
A taxpayer with a seriously delinquent tax debt is generally someone who owes the IRS more than $52,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest for which the IRS has filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien and the period to challenge it has expired or the IRS has issued a levy.
Before denying a passport renewal or new passport application, the State Department will hold the taxpayer’s application for 90 days to allow them to:
Resolve any erroneous certification issues,
Make full payment of the tax debt, or
Enter a satisfactory payment arrangement with the IRS.