Tax Lien Lawyers in Manatee County

In Manatee County, Florida, a "lien" is a security interest placed on a piece of property, usually land or a house, to secure the payment of a debt. It generally 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.

In Manatee County, Florida, a "tax lien" is simply a lien imposed by the government to collect back taxes from a citizen or corporation, when other methods for collecting have failed.

However, a tax lien in Manatee County, Florida 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 Manatee County, Florida

In Manatee County, Florida, 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 certain amount of money in back taxes, and that they have a small window of time (often 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 occurs, the IRS or Florida tax agency will have significant rights against the taxpayer's property.

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

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a tax lien in Florida, you are going to have to wade through some substantial and perplexing legal issues.

Therefore, it's important that you hire a tax attorney in Manatee County, Florida to ensure that whatever legal rights you have in this situation are defended. Your attorney will also be able to advise you on how to best deal with the situation.