Tax Lien Lawyers in Winslow

A "lien" in Winslow, 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 Winslow, 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 Winslow, 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 essential 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 Winslow, New Jersey

The actual process of setting up a Winslow, 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.

Then, the taxpayer is sent a letter with a "notice and demand," which informs the taxpayer that the IRS has decided that they owe back taxes, and that they have a short period of time (usually 10 days) to pay them without incurring a penalty.

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.

But, under federal law, there are limits to how tax liens can be enforced in Winslow, New Jersey, 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 Winslow, New Jersey Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

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

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