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Published:   |   Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Letter 3886

Special Condition Notice of Federal Tax Lien Filing – Taxpayer

The IRS has filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) against a third party the IRS has identified as your nominee or alter ego for the unpaid balances located on the Form 668(Y)(c) enclosed with the letter.

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Overview

You have an unpaid tax balance. The IRS has filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) against a third party it has identified as your nominee or alter ego. This means the lien may affect property listed on the notice, or property held in the third party’s name that the IRS treats as yours.

An NFTL is a public notice filed with local and/or state authorities. It alerts creditors that the government has a claim related to your unpaid tax debt. The enclosed Form 668(Y)(c), Notice of Federal Tax Lien, provides information about the tax debt, including the type of tax, tax period, initial amount owed, and any property information included in the filing.

While NFTLs no longer appear on credit reports, they may still affect your ability to get credit if a potential creditor uses other resources, such as public records, to discover the NFTL. Review the enclosed Form 668(Y)(c) for details about the filing.

I need more information

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What does this mean to me?

  • The IRS has filed a notice to alert creditors that the government has a right to your interest in the property named in the notice.
  • The NFTL is a public record. It may affect property property described in the notice, property held in the third party’s name, and your ability to sell, refinance, or borrow against property.
  • The filing may also affect the third party named in the notice. Potential creditors may find the NFTL through public records and consider it when reviewing credit or financing requests.
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How did I get here?

You received Letter 3886 because you have an unpaid tax balance, and the IRS filed an NFTL against a third party it identified as your nominee or alter ego.

A nominee is a person or entity that holds property in their name, but the IRS believes you still own, control, use, or benefit from that property. For example, the IRS may consider whether you previously owned the property, continue to use or control it, or pay expenses related to it.

An alter ego is a person or entity the IRS believes is so closely connected to you that it should be treated as you for collection purposes.

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What are my next steps?

  • Review Letter 3886 and the enclosed Form 668(Y)(c) carefully. Check the type of tax, tax periods, initial amount owed, third party named in the NFTL, and any property information included in the filing.
  • Pay the amount you owe or consider a collection alternative to stop additional collection actions. See payment options for more information. 
  • If you disagree with the filing of this NFTL you can request a conference with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals through the Collection Appeal Program (CAP). See CAP for more information.
  • See Lien Relief for more information to address the NFTL.

 The IRS will issue a Certificate of Lien Release within 30 days after one of the following occurs: 

  • The full amount, including penalties and interest, is paid, 
  • IRS accepts a bond guaranteeing payment of the amount owed, 
  • IRS determines the liability is not owed, or the liability has been reduced to zero, or 
  • The IRS is no longer legally able to collect the tax.

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The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS. TAS helps taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS, makes administrative and legislative recommendations to prevent or correct the problems, and protects taxpayer rights. TAS helps all taxpayers (and their representatives), including individuals, businesses, and exempt organizations. You may be eligible for free TAS help if your IRS problem is causing financial difficulty, if you’ve tried and been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS, or if you believe an IRS system, process, or procedure just isn’t working as it should.

TAS has offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To find your local advocate’s number:

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) assist individuals whose income is below a certain level who need to resolve tax problems with the IRS. They also provide education, outreach, and information on taxpayer rights to individuals who speak English as a second language. LITCs represent taxpayers in disputes before the IRS and courts and help taxpayers respond to IRS notices and correct account problems. Services are offered for free or a small fee. LITCs are independent from the IRS and TAS. For more information or to find an LITC near you, see the LITC Page or Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List. You can also request Pub. 4134 by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

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