Direct answer
What does Tax lien mean?
A charge against property for unpaid property taxes.
Exam cue: Property taxes commonly become a lien with priority determined by law.
What does it look like in a question?
New York example
Unpaid local property taxes remain as a lien that must be addressed in a sale.
Common exam trap
What should you not confuse it with?
A tax lien is not the same as an income-tax deduction.
Related taxes and assessments terms
Assessed valueThe value placed on real property for property-tax administration.Assessment rollThe official municipal record listing parcels, assessed values, exemptions and related assessment information.Equalization rateNew York State's measure of a municipality's overall level of assessment, calculated from total assessed value and total market value.ExemptionA law-based reduction or removal of qualifying property value from specified property taxation.Tax levyThe total amount a taxing jurisdiction determines it must raise through property taxes.Tax rateThe rate applied to taxable assessed value to calculate property tax for a jurisdiction.
Sources used2 references with section locators
The curriculum citation confirms exam scope. Definition and rule citations support the explanation itself. Links and locators were checked on August 26, 2026.
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