Tax Lien Lawyers in South Burlington

A "lien" in South Burlington, Vermont is a type of security interest that one person or entity has in someone else's property. Normally, 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 funds 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 acquire the payment of back taxes. A tax lien in South Burlington, 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 South Burlington, 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. Nonetheless, a tax lien can be applied to property that the taxpayer gains after the lien goes into effect.

Tax Lien Procedure in South Burlington, Vermont

The actual process of setting up a South Burlington, Vermont tax lien is typically pretty simple. The agency responsible for collecting taxes must first decide that a tax lien is warranted, typically by finding that the debtor owes a significant amount of back taxes.

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 given period of time (typically 10 days) to pay what they owe.

If the back taxes are not paid before the deadline is up, the lien will typically 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 permits.

But, these rights are limited. In South Burlington, Vermont, 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." Additionally, 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 South Burlington, 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 confusing, quite quickly.

Luckily, South Burlington, Vermont 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.