Tax Lien Lawyers in Southside

In Southside, Alabama, a "lien" is a security interest placed on a piece of property, typically land or a house, to secure the payment of a debt. It usually gives a creditor the right to take ownership of any equity that exists in the property, to secure the payment of the debt. If the owner sells the property, the creditor may also be entitled to the funds of the sale, up to the amount owed. It can also give the holder of the lien a higher priority status, giving them an advantage over competing creditors, if the debtor files bankruptcy.

As you might have gathered, a "tax lien" is simply a lien placed on property by the IRS or Southside, Alabama tax authorities, to gather taxes that the property-owner has failed to pay.

Of course, a tax lien in Southside, Alabama 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. Apparently, this makes it quite a bit easier for the government to collect its taxes.

Tax Lien Procedure in Southside, Alabama

In Southside, Alabama, the procedure for imposing a tax lien is relatively simple. First, the IRS makes a decision that a person is delinquent in their tax requirement.

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

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 Alabama tax agency, giving them all the rights in your property that the law permits.

Nonetheless, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in Southside, Alabama 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 Southside, Alabama Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If you end up having a tax lien imposed on your property in Alabama, you will probably have to deal with some fairly challenging legal issues, which might be intricate to a layperson.

Thankfully for you, tax lawyers in Southside, Alabama 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.