Tax Lien Lawyers in West Newbury

In West Newbury, Massachusetts, a "lien" is a type of property right, which is created by a court to acquire 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.

In West Newbury, Massachusetts, 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.

Tax Liens in West Newbury, Massachusetts are generally only effective if the taxpayer has a significant amount of property on which a lien can be placed. However, it's necessary to note that practically any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in West Newbury, Massachusetts

The actual process of setting up a West Newbury, Massachusetts tax lien is usually pretty simple. The agency responsible for collecting taxes must first decide that a tax lien is warranted, usually by finding that the debtor owes a significant amount of back taxes.

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 quick payment. It will usually give the taxpayer about 10 days to pay the demanded amount.

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

Nonetheless, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in West Newbury, Massachusetts 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 West Newbury, Massachusetts Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If you end up having a tax lien imposed on your property in Massachusetts, you will probably have to deal with some fairly difficult legal issues, which might be intricate to a layperson.

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 reputable tax lawyer in West Newbury, Massachusetts as soon as you can.