Tax Lien in Evanston, Illinois

Find the right Tax Lien attorney in Evanston, IL

Tax Lien Lawyers in Evanston

In Evanston, Illinois, a "lien" is a security interest placed on a piece of property, usually land or a house, to secure the payment of a debt. It generally gives a creditor the right to take ownership of any equity that exists in the property, to secure the payment of the debt. If the owner sells the property, the creditor may also be entitled to the funds of the sale, up to the amount owed. It can also give the holder of the lien a higher priority status, giving them an advantage over competing creditors, if the debtor files bankruptcy.

A tax lien, then, is simply a lien that is formed for the particular purpose of collecting taxes from a delinquent tax payer in Evanston, Illinois.

Of course, a tax lien in Evanston, Illinois isn't worth much more than the paper it's printed on if the debtor doesn't own any property of value, on which a lien could be placed. Nonetheless, a tax lien applies to property that the taxpayer obtains even after the lien is created. Obviously, this makes it quite a bit easier for the government to collect its taxes.

Tax Lien Procedure in Evanston, Illinois

The process of imposing a tax lien on property in Evanston, Illinois is usually fairly simple. The initial step is for the IRS or local tax agency to decide that a person actually owes back taxes, and that it is worth the effort to impose a lien.

At this point, they will send the taxpayer a written notice stating that they owe a certain amount of money in back taxes, and that they have a small window of time (often 10 days or less) to pay it.

If this 10-day period expires without payment, the tax lien arises automatically. Once this happens, the tax authorities in Illinois have all the options in the taxpayer's property that any other lien holder would have, containing priority over competing creditors.

But, these rights are limited. In Evanston, Illinois, and everywhere else in the United States, the IRS has 10 years to enforce a tax lien. If they do nothing about it within 10 years, the lien expires. This rule exists for a few reasons. First, it encourages the IRS to act as quickly and efficiently as possible, and not "sit on its rights." Also, it acknowledges the fact that any encumbrance on a piece of property, such as a lien, makes the property less valuable. By guaranteeing that the lien will either be satisfied or expire within 10 years, this prevents property from being withheld from the stream of commerce forever.

How Can a Evanston, Illinois Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If you are notified by the government that you owe back taxes in Illinois, and that they are going to pursue a tax lien to collect their money, things can get very perplexing, very quickly.

Therefore, if you think that any piece of property you own might become subject to a tax lien in Evanston, Illinois, you should not delay to seek the advice of a competent tax attorney immediately.

Talk to a Tax Law Attorney now!

Life in Evanston

Evanston, Illinois is a municipality in Cook County, Illinois. It is a suburb of Chicago, and its population is estimated at about 75,000 people. Evanston is probably best known as the home of Northwestern University, which is one of the most prestigious undergraduate and graduate schools in the U.S., and home to one of highest-ranked law schools in the U.S. Evanston was officially incorporated in 1863, and grew rapidly during the industrial revolution. The popular building toys known as "Tinkertoys" were invented in Evanston, Illinois. Evanston is one of several cities which claim to be the birthplace of the ice cream sundae, though the veracity this claim, and the claims of other cities, can't be confirmed. Modernly, Northwestern University makes up a significant portion of Evanston's economic activity, from the thousands of people it employs, and the students it brings to the community, who typically spend a lot of money. If you live in the Chicago/Evanston area, and need legal representation, an Evanston, Illinois lawyer would probably be able to meet your legal needs. Evanston's proximity to such a prestigious law school, as well as the huge city right next door, ensures that Evanston, Illinois lawyers must be far more sophisticated than the average small-town attorney.

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