Tax Lien Lawyers in Sutherlin
In Sutherlin, Oregon, a "lien" is specified as a property right that's authorized to a creditor against a piece of property owned by a debtor, for the purpose of collecting on the debt if the debtor is unwilling or unable to pay. A lien authorizes its owner to exercise some control over the property that is the subject of the lien. This includes the right to force a sale of the property, and to seize the resulting revenue, and priority access to the property ahead of other creditors.
A "tax lien" is simply a lien placed on a piece of property by the state or local government, to acquire the payment of back taxes. A tax lien in Sutherlin, Oregon can arise to secure the payment of any federal or state tax, including income tax, estate tax, or gift tax.
However, a tax lien in Sutherlin, Oregon will be ineffective if the debtor doesn't own any valuable property to encumber with a lien. As with any debt, the creditor can't collect if the debtor doesn't have any assets. Nonetheless, a tax lien can be applied to property that the taxpayer gains after the lien goes into effect.
Tax Lien Procedure in Sutherlin, Oregon
The actual process of setting up a Sutherlin, Oregon tax lien is normally pretty simple. The agency responsible for collecting taxes must first decide that a tax lien is warranted, normally 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 (normally 10 days) to pay them without incurring a penalty.
If the back taxes are not paid before the deadline is up, the lien will normally take effect immediately, with no further action by the IRS or Oregon tax agency, giving them all the rights in your property that the law authorizes.
Nonetheless, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in Sutherlin, Oregon 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 Sutherlin, Oregon Tax Lien Lawyer Help?
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a tax lien in Oregon, you are going to have to wade through some substantial and intricate legal contentions.
Therefore, it should go without saying that if you are facing the prospect of your home or vehicle being slapped with a tax lien, you need to obtain the advice of a seasoned tax lawyer in Sutherlin, Oregon as soon as you can.