Tax Lien Lawyers in Bennington

A "lien" in Bennington, Vermont is a type of security interest that one person or entity has in someone else's property. Usually, a lien is created by a court, to secure payment of a debt. A lien gives its holder many rights in the property that is subject to it, including the right to seize the proceeds if the property is sold, and priority access to the property, in front of other creditors.

A "tax lien" is simply a lien placed on a piece of property by the state or local government, to secure the payment of back taxes. A tax lien in Bennington, Vermont can arise to secure the payment of any federal or state tax, including income tax, estate tax, or gift tax.

However, a tax lien in Bennington, Vermont 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 Bennington, Vermont

Imposing a tax lien in Bennington, Vermont 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.

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 specific period of time (normally 10 days) to pay what they owe.

If the back taxes are not paid before the deadline is up, the lien will normally take effect immediately, with no further action by the IRS or Vermont tax agency, giving them all the rights in your property that the law authorizes.

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

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

Thankfully, Bennington, Vermont tax attorneys can help. If you are facing the prospect of a tax lien, you should not hesitate to seek qualified legal advice, to ensure that your legal rights are protected.