NJ Certificate of Debt: What It Means for You
A Certificate of Debt is filed by the NJ Division of Taxation with the Superior Court for unpaid tax. It becomes a judgment that works like a lien on your property and allows wage and bank levies.
What to do
- Get a payoff amount from the Division of Taxation.
- Pay in full, or request a deferred payment plan.
- After payment, ask for a Warrant of Satisfaction to clear the judgment record.
Local help
We help New Jersey taxpayers from our Farmingdale, Red Bank, and Brick offices negotiate payment and clear judgments.
Common questions
- Does a Certificate of Debt show on credit reports?
- Tax judgments are public court records that title searches and lenders can see, even though the major credit bureaus no longer report them.
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Related answers
General information, not tax advice for your specific situation. Last reviewed 2026-10-16.