Tax Lien Lawyers in South Jordan

In South Jordan, Utah, a "lien" is defined as a property right that's granted to a creditor against a piece of property owned by a debtor, for the purpose of collecting on the debt if the debtor is unwilling or unable to pay. A lien authorizes its owner to exercise some control over the property that is the subject of the lien. This includes the right to force a sale of the property, and to seize the resulting revenue, and priority access to the property ahead of other creditors.

A tax lien, then, is simply a lien that is appointed for the specific purpose of collecting taxes from a delinquent tax payer in South Jordan, Utah.

However, a tax lien in South Jordan, Utah will be ineffective if the debtor doesn't own any valuable property to encumber with a lien. As with any debt, the creditor can't collect if the debtor doesn't have any assets. However, a tax lien can be applied to property that the taxpayer acquires after the lien goes into effect.

Tax Lien Procedure in South Jordan, Utah

Imposing a tax lien in South Jordan, Utah is usually an uncomplicated process. Typically, the tax authorities simply have to make a determination that the taxpayer is delinquent in their taxes, and that imposing and enforcing a tax lien will actually be worth the effort.

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

If this deadline expires, and the debtor does not pay the taxes they owe, the lien will take effect automatically. When this happens, the IRS or Utah tax agency will have considerable rights against the taxpayer's property.

However, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in South Jordan, Utah 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 South Jordan, Utah Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If the federal government, or the government of Utah informs you that they intend to place a tax lien on your property, you will likely face some pretty convoluted and daunting legal issues.

Accordingly, it's important that you retain a tax attorney in South Jordan, Utah to ensure that whatever legal rights you have in this situation are protected. Your attorney will also be able to advise you on how to best deal with the situation.