Tax Lien Lawyers in Raeford

A "lien" in Raeford, North Carolina is a property right that a person or entity has in property owned by someone else, created by law, for the purpose of enforcing a debt. A lien gives its holder several rights in the property of another person, including the right to seize the proceeds of a sale of the property, and, if the debtor files for bankruptcy, the right to go to the front of the line among other creditors, making it more likely that the lien holder will collect something.

As you might have gathered, a "tax lien" is simply a lien placed on property by the IRS or Raeford, North Carolina tax authorities, to collect taxes that the property-owner has failed to pay.

Tax Liens in Raeford, North Carolina are generally only effective if the taxpayer has a significant amount of property on which a lien can be placed. However, it's essential to note that essentially any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in Raeford, North Carolina

Imposing a tax lien in Raeford, North Carolina is typically an uncomplicated process. Generally, the tax authorities simply have to make a determination that the taxpayer is delinquent in their taxes, and that imposing and enforcing a tax lien will actually be worth the effort.

At this point, they will send the taxpayer a written notice stating that they owe a certain amount of money in back taxes, and that they have a small window of time (often 10 days or less) to pay it.

If this 10-day period expires without payment, the tax lien arises automatically. Once this happens, the tax authorities in North Carolina have all the rights in the taxpayer's property that any other lien holder would have, including priority over competing creditors.

But, under federal law, there are limits to how tax liens can be enforced in Raeford, North Carolina, 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 Raeford, North Carolina Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If the federal government, or the government of North Carolina informs you that they intend to place a tax lien on your property, you will likely face some pretty complicated and daunting legal issues.

Accordingly, if you think that any piece of property you own might become subject to a tax lien in Raeford, North Carolina, you should not hesitate to seek the advice of a competent tax attorney immediately.