Tax Lien Lawyers in Walthourville

In Walthourville, Georgia, a "lien" is a security interest placed on a piece of property, normally land or a house, to secure the payment of a debt. It typically 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 proceeds 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.

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

Tax liens in Walthourville, Georgia are ineffective if the taxpayer doesn't have any property to place the lien on. However, essentially any property, including that which the taxpayer obtains after the lien goes into effect, can be affected by a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in Walthourville, Georgia

In Walthourville, Georgia, the procedure for imposing a tax lien is relatively simple. First, the IRS makes a determination that a person is delinquent in their tax obligation.

At this point, the taxpayer will receive a letter containing a "notice and demand," which, as the name suggests, gives notice that the recipient owes taxes, and demands immediate payment. It will normally give the taxpayer about 10 days to pay the demanded amount.

If the deadline passes without payment, most tax liens in Georgia take effect automatically, giving the tax collectors all of the rights in your property that any other lien holder would have.

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

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

Thankfully, Walthourville, Georgia 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.