Tax Lien Lawyers in Highland Park

A "lien" in Highland Park, New Jersey 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 various 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.

In Highland Park, New Jersey, a "tax lien" is simply a lien imposed by the government to gather back taxes from a citizen or corporation, when other methods for collecting have failed.

Tax Liens in Highland Park, New Jersey are usually only effective if the taxpayer has a significant amount of property on which a lien can be placed. However, it's crucial 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 Highland Park, New Jersey

In Highland Park, New Jersey, the process for creating a tax lien is fairly uncomplicated. First, the tax authorities decide that a taxpayer truly owes taxes that they haven't paid (that they're delinquent in their taxes).

At this point, they will send the taxpayer a written notice stating that they owe a particular amount of money in back taxes, and that they have a small window of time (frequently 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 New Jersey have all the options in the taxpayer's property that any other lien holder would have, containing priority over competing creditors.

Nonetheless, there are limits to how and when a tax lien can be enforced, at least under federal law. The IRS has 10 years to enforce a tax lien in Highland Park, New Jersey or anywhere else in the U.S. If it never bothers to take action to seize property that's subject to a tax lien, the lien simply ceases to exist after 10 years. This rule is in place to ensure that the government does not sit on its rights, and to keep potentially-valuable property from being encumbered forever. Essentially, it creates a measure of certainty for both parties.

How Can a Highland Park, New Jersey Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

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

Therefore, if you think that any piece of property you own might become subject to a tax lien in Highland Park, New Jersey, you should not delay to seek the advice of a skilled tax attorney immediately.