Tax Lien Lawyers in West Orange

A "lien" in West Orange, 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 West Orange, New Jersey, 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 Orange, New Jersey 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 West Orange, New Jersey

The actual process of setting up a West Orange, New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 Orange, New Jersey 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 Orange, 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 perplexing, very quickly.

Therefore, it's important that you hire a tax attorney in West Orange, New Jersey 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.