Tax Lien Lawyers in Rock Falls
In Rock Falls, Illinois, a "lien" is a type of property right, which is created by a court to obtain payment of a lawful debt. Generally, a valid lien gives its holder the right to seize the property subject to it, or at least some of the property's equity, to satisfy the debt. If the owner sells a piece of property that's subject to a lien, the creditor who owns the lien may be entitled to the proceeds, up to the amount you owe them. It can also put them "first in line" compared to other creditors, if the debtor files for bankruptcy.
A "tax lien" is simply a lien placed on a piece of property by the state or local government, to secure the payment of back taxes. A tax lien in Rock Falls, Illinois 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 Rock Falls, Illinois 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. However, a tax lien can be applied to property that the taxpayer acquires after the lien goes into effect.
Tax Lien Procedure in Rock Falls, Illinois
The actual process of setting up a Rock Falls, Illinois tax lien is usually pretty simple. The agency responsible for collecting taxes must first determine that a tax lien is warranted, usually by finding that the debtor owes a significant amount of back taxes.
Then, the taxpayer is sent a letter with a "notice and demand," which informs the taxpayer that the IRS has determined that they owe back taxes, and that they have a short period of time (usually 10 days) to pay them without incurring a penalty.
If the back taxes are not paid before the deadline is up, the lien will usually take effect immediately, with no further action by the IRS or Illinois tax agency, giving them all the rights in your property that the law allows.
However, in Rock Falls, Illinois, and anywhere else in America, a tax lien only lasts for 10 years, and then it automatically expires. If the IRS fails to exercise the substantial rights that it has under a tax lien within that period of time, it is assumed that they never intend to do so, and the lien will cease to exist. This ensures that valuable property is only kept out of the economy for a limited period of time.
How Can a Rock Falls, Illinois Tax Lien Lawyer Help?
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a tax lien in Illinois, you are going to have to wade through some substantial and complex legal issues.
So, it should go without saying that if you are facing the prospect of your home or vehicle being slapped with a tax lien, you need to seek the advice of a good tax lawyer in Rock Falls, Illinois as soon as you can.