Tax Lien Lawyers in Fort Stockton

In Fort Stockton, Texas, 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 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.

A tax lien, then, is simply a lien that is appointed for the specific purpose of collecting taxes from a delinquent tax payer in Fort Stockton, Texas.

Tax Liens in Fort Stockton, Texas are usually only effective if the taxpayer has a significant amount of property on which a lien can be placed. However, it's crucial to note that essentially any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in Fort Stockton, Texas

In Fort Stockton, Texas, the process for creating a tax lien is fairly uncomplicated. First, the tax authorities determine that a taxpayer truly owes taxes that they haven't paid (that they're delinquent in their taxes).

At this point, the taxpayer will receive a letter containing a "notice and demand," which, as the name suggests, gives notice that the recipient owes taxes, and demands immediate payment. It will typically give the taxpayer about 10 days to pay the demanded amount.

If this 10-day period expires without payment, the tax lien arises automatically. Once this happens, the tax authorities in Texas have all the rights in the taxpayer's property that any other lien holder would have, including priority over competing creditors.

However, in Fort Stockton, Texas, 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 substantial 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 narrow period of time.

How Can a Fort Stockton, Texas Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

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

Accordingly, if you think that any piece of property you own might become subject to a tax lien in Fort Stockton, Texas, you should not hesitate to seek the advice of a skilled tax attorney immediately.