Tax Lien Lawyers in Mount Vernon
A "lien" in Mount Vernon, New York 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 many 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.
A tax lien, then, is simply a lien that is created for the specific purpose of collecting taxes from a delinquent tax payer in Mount Vernon, New York.
Tax Liens in Mount Vernon, New York 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 virtually any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.
Tax Lien Procedure in Mount Vernon, New York
In Mount Vernon, New York, the process for creating a tax lien is fairly uncomplicated. First, the tax authorities determine that a taxpayer actually 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 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 the deadline passes without payment, most tax liens in New York take effect automatically, giving the tax collectors all of the rights in your property that any other lien holder would have.
However, 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 Mount Vernon, New York 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 prevent potentially-valuable property from being encumbered indefinitely. Basically, it creates a measure of certainty for both parties.
How Can a Mount Vernon, New York Tax Lien Lawyer Help?
If you receive notice from the federal government, or the government of New York that a tax lien has been imposed on your property, some pretty complicated legal issues are necessarily involved.
Accordingly, it's important that you hire a tax attorney in Mount Vernon, New York to ensure that whatever legal rights you have in this situation are protected. Your attorney will also be able to advise you on how to best deal with the situation.