Tax Lien Lawyers in Shippensburg

In Shippensburg, 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 permits 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.

As you might have gathered, a "tax lien" is simply a lien placed on property by the IRS or Shippensburg, Pennsylvania tax authorities, to gather taxes that the property-owner has failed to pay.

However, a tax lien in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania 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 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

The actual process of setting up a Shippensburg, Pennsylvania tax lien is typically pretty simple. The agency responsible for collecting taxes must first decide that a tax lien is warranted, typically by finding that the debtor owes a significant amount of back 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 typically take effect immediately, with no further action by the IRS or Pennsylvania tax agency, giving them all the rights in your property that the law permits.

But, these rights are limited. In Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and everywhere else in the United States, the IRS has 10 years to enforce a tax lien. If they do nothing about it within 10 years, the lien expires. This rule exists for a few reasons. First, it encourages the IRS to act as quickly and efficiently as possible, and not "sit on its rights." Also, it acknowledges the fact that any encumbrance on a piece of property, such as a lien, makes the property less valuable. By guaranteeing that the lien will either be satisfied or expire within 10 years, this prevents property from being withheld from the stream of commerce forever.

How Can a Shippensburg, Pennsylvania Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If you end up having a tax lien imposed on your property in Pennsylvania, you will probably have to deal with some fairly challenging legal issues, which might be complicated to a layperson.

Thus, 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 pursue the advice of a reliable tax lawyer in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania as soon as you can.