Credit Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the credit terms that actually matter.
Credit Utilization
The percentage of your available credit you're currently using across all your cards.
Hard Inquiry
A credit check triggered by a new credit application, which can temporarily lower your score.
Thin File
A credit report with too little history for scoring models to generate a reliable score.
Tax Lien
A legal claim the government files against your property when you fail to pay a tax debt, though it no longer appears on your credit report.
Lien Withdrawal
The removal of a public tax lien filing as if it had never been recorded, requested through IRS Form 12277.
Lien Release
An automatic notice issued about 30 days after a tax debt is paid, marking the lien as satisfied — though the public record still remains.