Is it possible for the IRS to put a lien on a mutual fund?

If they can, do I still have access to account information? I tried to cash in and found out that the IRS put a lien on it until I file back taxes and then pay them out of the fund. But does this mean that I no longer even have access to my account information. All I need is a statement saying what I had and that there is a lien and the investment company says I cannot even have information without filing my taxes. Is this true?

I would go with what the investment company is saying to you. But I do know that there isn't much that the irs can't put a lien on. They can lien bank accounts, so I would say they can liem mutual funds.

Clearly the IRS can ... and did ... put a lien on the account.

You should still be able to receive your statements. The broker likely locked internet access because they typically do not have systems in place that allow you to access but not transfer the funds. They can mail them to you.

Oh yes.. the IRS can do anything they want to do..

IRS can serve a levy on a delinquent taxpayer's assets including a mutual fund account provided proper notice of intent to levy was given first. Funds received from the levy will be used to reduce the unpaid tax liability. You are entitled to account information in the ordinary course of business. How would the investment company know or even care if you filed a tax return.

Get your taxes up to date and paid. They can do worse; they can send you to jail if you don't.

What has happened to you is called a levy not a lien. The mutual fund company has a legal requirement that they have to send IRS the amount of the levy unless the mutual fund company receives a levy release from them. The amount of time is usually 21 days and is listed on the levy notice. Your wages, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and IRAs can all be levied. http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/arti...

What has probably happened is you owe back taxes that you haven鈥檛 paid or since you say you have to file your returns a SFR (substitute for return) has been done. A SFR happens when the IRS thinks you might owe them money and you didn鈥檛 respond when they asked you for the return. When the IRS prepares a SFR they aren鈥檛 doing you any favors because they prepare it the most conservative way possible; they won鈥檛 allow for any credits except withholding, allow only 1 exemption, and only allow single or married filing separately filing status. You can always file your own return if that would result in a lower liability or even a refund.

IRS will not release the levy until you full pay the liability or make an installment agreement with them and file all returns for which you have a filing requirement. In this situation don鈥檛 mail the returns in; take them to your closest IRS office and file them in person http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.h... . At the local office they can prepare most tax returns for you if you don鈥檛 know how unless the income is over $39,000, has self employment income, capital gains, or rental property. While you are there they can enter into an installment agreement with you and release the levy. This probably can鈥檛 be handled on the toll free number unless you accept the SFR.