Tax Lien Lawyers in Washington

A "lien" in Washington, 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 numerous 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 possible 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 Washington, North Carolina tax authorities, to gather taxes that the property-owner has failed to pay.

Tax Liens in Washington, North Carolina are usually 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 basically any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in Washington, North Carolina

The actual process of setting up a Washington, North Carolina tax lien is typically pretty simple. The agency responsible for collecting taxes must first decide that a tax lien is warranted, typically 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 typically give the taxpayer about 10 days to pay the demanded amount.

If the deadline passes without payment, most tax liens in North Carolina 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 Washington, North Carolina 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 Washington, 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 confusing and daunting legal issues.

Therefore, it's important that you contact a tax attorney in Washington, North Carolina to ensure that whatever legal rights you have in this situation are defended. Your attorney will also be able to advise you on how to best deal with the situation.