Tax Lien Lawyers in Bryn Mawr

In Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 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 allows 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 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania can arise to secure the payment of any federal or state tax, including income tax, estate tax, or gift tax.

However, like any other debt-collection method, a tax lien is worthless if the debtor has no significant property on which a lien can be imposed. To get around this limitation, most tax liens in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania apply to after-acquired property (property acquired after the lien was created). Most other liens only apply to specific pieces of property, or property that the debtor owned at the time the lien went into effect.

Tax Lien Procedure in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

The process of imposing a tax lien on property in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania is usually fairly simple. The initial step is for the IRS or local tax agency to decide that a person actually owes back taxes, and that it is worth the effort to impose a lien.

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 deadline passes without payment, most tax liens in Pennsylvania take effect automatically, giving the tax collectors all of the options in your property that any other lien holder would have.

Nonetheless, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 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 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If you are notified by the government that you owe back taxes in Pennsylvania, and that they are going to pursue a tax lien to collect their money, things can get very perplexing, very quickly.

Luckily for you, tax lawyers in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania are experts at dealing with matters such as these, and can make sure your rights are safeguarded, and advise you on the best way to proceed, if you are facing the prospect of a tax lien.