Tax Lien Lawyers in Westborough

In Westborough, 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 Westborough, 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 Westborough, Massachusetts are generally only effective if the taxpayer has a significant amount of property on which a lien can be placed. However, it's important 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 Westborough, Massachusetts

The actual process of setting up a Westborough, 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.

But, under federal law, there are limits to how tax liens can be enforced in Westborough, Massachusetts, and elsewhere. Generally, the IRS has 10 years to try and enforce a tax lien. If no effort is made to enforce a tax lien for 10 years, the lien is automatically lifted, and the lien holder loses all rights in it. This rule exists to ensure that the government collects its taxes in a reasonable time period, and it prevents valuable property (which could otherwise be contributing to the economy by being bought and sold) is not laded with a lien for an indefinite period of time.

How Can a Westborough, 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.

Fortunately, Westborough, Massachusetts tax attorneys can help. If you are facing the prospect of a tax lien, you should not hesitate to seek competent legal advice, to ensure that your legal rights are protected.