Tax Lien Lawyers in Chesterbrook

In Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, a "lien" is defined as a property right that's granted 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 secure the payment of back taxes. A tax lien in Chesterbrook, 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 considerable property on which a lien can be imposed. To get around this limitation, most tax liens in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania apply to after-acquired property (property obtained after the lien was created). Most other liens only apply to certain pieces of property, or property that the debtor owned at the time the lien went into effect.

Tax Lien Procedure in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania

The process of imposing a tax lien on property in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania is normally fairly simple. The first step is for the IRS or local tax agency to determine that a person really owes back taxes, and that it is worth the effort to impose a lien.

They will then mail a document called a "notice and demand," which lets the taxpayer know that they owe money on their taxes, and that they have a specific period of time (normally 10 days) to pay what they owe.

If that time period expires, and the debtor still hasn't paid, the Pennsylvania tax lien will go into effect automatically, with no further action required.

However, if the federal government does not seek to enforce a tax lien in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania 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 ensure that property is not encumbered by a lien forever.

How Can a Chesterbrook, 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 convoluted, extremely quickly.

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