Tax Lien Lawyers in Winthrop Harbor

In Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, a "lien" is a type of property right, which is created by a court to obtain payment of a lawful debt. Typically, 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 further 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 Winthrop Harbor, Illinois can arise to secure the payment of any federal or state tax, including income tax, estate tax, or gift tax.

Of course, a tax lien in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois 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. However, a tax lien applies to property that the taxpayer obtains even after the lien is created. Evidently, this makes it quite a bit easier for the government to collect its taxes.

Tax Lien Procedure in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois

The process of imposing a tax lien on property in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois is normally fairly simple. The first step is for the IRS or local tax agency to determine that a person really owes back taxes, and that it is worth the effort to impose a lien.

They will then mail a document called a "notice and demand," which lets the taxpayer know that they owe money on their taxes, and that they have a specific period of time (normally 10 days) to pay what they owe.

If that time period expires, and the debtor still hasn't paid, the Illinois tax lien will go into effect automatically, with no further action required.

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

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

Thankfully, Winthrop Harbor, Illinois 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.