Tax Lien Lawyers in Lakewood
A "lien" in Lakewood, Ohio 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.
A tax lien, then, is simply a lien that is established for the particular purpose of collecting taxes from a delinquent tax payer in Lakewood, Ohio.
Of course, a tax lien in Lakewood, Ohio isn't worth much more than the paper it's printed on if the debtor doesn't own any property of value, on which a lien could be placed. Nonetheless, a tax lien applies to property that the taxpayer obtains even after the lien is created. Obviously, this makes it quite a bit easier for the government to collect its taxes.
Tax Lien Procedure in Lakewood, Ohio
In Lakewood, Ohio, the process for creating a tax lien is fairly uncomplicated. First, the tax authorities decide that a taxpayer actually owes taxes that they haven't paid (that they're delinquent in their taxes).
Then, the IRS, or state tax authorities, send a "notice and demand," informing the taxpayer that they owe back taxes, and that they are obligated to pay their taxes within 10 days.
If the back taxes are not paid before the deadline is up, the lien will usually take effect immediately, with no further action by the IRS or Ohio tax agency, giving them all the rights in your property that the law allows.
Nonetheless, in Lakewood, Ohio, and anywhere else in America, a tax lien only lasts for 10 years, and then it automatically expires. If the IRS fails to exercise the considerable rights that it has under a tax lien within that period of time, it is assumed that they never intend to do so, and the lien will cease to exist. This ensures that valuable property is only kept out of the economy for a limited period of time.
How Can a Lakewood, Ohio Tax Lien Lawyer Help?
If you are notified by the government that you owe back taxes in Ohio, and that they are going to pursue a tax lien to collect their money, things can get very perplexing, very quickly.
Fortunately, Lakewood, Ohio tax attorneys can help. If you are facing the prospect of a tax lien, you should not hesitate to seek competent legal advice, to ensure that your legal rights are protected.