Tax Lien Lawyers in Barnstable County

In Barnstable County, Massachusetts, a "lien" is a type of property right, which is created by a court to obtain payment of a lawful debt. Usually, a valid lien gives its holder the right to seize the property subject to it, or at least some of the property's equity, to satisfy the debt. If the owner sells a piece of property that's subject to a lien, the creditor who owns the lien may be entitled to the proceeds, up to the amount you owe them. It can additionally put them "first in line" compared to other creditors, if the debtor files for bankruptcy.

In Barnstable County, Massachusetts, a "tax lien" is simply a lien imposed by the government to gather back taxes from a person or corporation, when other methods for collecting have failed.

Tax Liens in Barnstable County, Massachusetts are usually only effective if the taxpayer has a significant amount of property on which a lien can be placed. However, it's important to note that virtually any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in Barnstable County, Massachusetts

In Barnstable County, Massachusetts, the process for creating a tax lien is fairly uncomplicated. First, the tax authorities determine that a taxpayer truly owes taxes that they haven't paid (that they're delinquent in their taxes).

At this point, the taxpayer will receive a letter containing a "notice and demand," which, as the name suggests, gives notice that the recipient owes taxes, and demands immediate payment. It will typically give the taxpayer about 10 days to pay the demanded amount.

If that time period expires, and the debtor still hasn't paid, the Massachusetts tax lien will go into effect automatically, with no further action required.

However, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in Barnstable County, Massachusetts within 10 years of imposing it, federal law dictates that the lien automatically expires. This is effectively a statute of limitations on a tax lien, meant to encourage the federal government to collect its taxes in a reasonable period of time, and ensure that property is not encumbered by a lien forever.

How Can a Barnstable County, Massachusetts Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

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

Luckily, Barnstable County, Massachusetts tax attorneys can help. If you are facing the prospect of a tax lien, you should not hesitate to seek skilled legal advice, to ensure that your legal rights are protected.