Tax Lien Lawyers in Clay County

In Clay County, Missouri, a "lien" is a type of property right, which is created by a court to acquire payment of a lawful debt. Generally, 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 also put them "first in line" compared to other creditors, if the debtor files for bankruptcy.

A tax lien, then, is simply a lien that is established for the particular purpose of collecting taxes from a delinquent tax payer in Clay County, Missouri.

Of course, a tax lien in Clay County, Missouri 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 Clay County, Missouri

The process of imposing a tax lien on property in Clay County, Missouri 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.

They will then mail a document called a "notice and demand," which lets the taxpayer know that they owe money on their taxes, and that they have a certain period of time (usually 10 days) to pay what they owe.

If the deadline passes without payment, most tax liens in Missouri take effect automatically, giving the tax collectors all of the options in your property that any other lien holder would have.

Nonetheless, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in Clay County, Missouri 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 guarantee that property is not encumbered by a lien forever.

How Can a Clay County, Missouri Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

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

Luckily for you, tax lawyers in Clay County, Missouri are experts at dealing with matters such as these, and can make sure your rights are safeguarded, and advise you on the best way to proceed, if you are facing the prospect of a tax lien.