A tax lien is issued by the government when the owner of the property owes unpaid taxes. The property owner is notified about the presence of the tax lien and information about how much is owed. Once the lien is paid, the government will remove the lien from the property within 30 days of payment.
What Should You Do If Your Property Has a Tax Lien?
The first step is to make sure that the lien is correct. Sometimes, tax liens can be incorrectly put on due to clerical error or miscommunication. Once you determine how much you owe, double check with your records and see if you paid that amount.
If you did pay that amount, then notify the government right away with documents that prove you paid that amount. If you paid with direct deposit, the bank should have record of the payment. It’s always important to keep track of your tax and financial records, especially because situations like this can happen.
If you verify that you do owe taxes, then the next step is obvious: pay off the amount owed. If you are unable to, then keep in mind that your property (home, car, etc.) can be seized and sold. If you are unable to pay off the lien quickly, then it is possible for you to have a payment plan that can ensure you won’t lose your property but the taxes will be paid back. If you need help removing the tax lien, then you should contact a local tax attorney today.