Tax Lien Lawyers in Cottage Grove

A "lien" in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin is a type of security interest that one person or entity has in someone else's property. Normally, a lien is created by a court, to secure payment of a debt. A lien gives its holder many rights in the property that is subject to it, including the right to seize the proceeds if the property is sold, and priority access to the property, in front of other creditors.

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

Tax Liens in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin 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 virtually any property, including that which is acquired after the lien is imposed, can be subject to a tax lien.

Tax Lien Procedure in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

The process of imposing a tax lien on property in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin is typically fairly simple. The first step is for the IRS or local tax agency to determine that a person truly owes back taxes, and that it is worth the effort to impose a lien.

Then, the taxpayer is sent a letter with a "notice and demand," which informs the taxpayer that the IRS has determined that they owe back taxes, and that they have a short period of time (typically 10 days) to pay them without incurring a penalty.

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

But, under federal law, there are limits to how tax liens can be enforced in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. Usually, the IRS has 10 years to try and enforce a tax lien. If no effort is made to enforce a tax lien for 10 years, the lien is automatically lifted, and the lien holder loses all rights in it. This rule exists to ensure that the government collects its taxes in a reasonable time period, and it prevents valuable property (which could otherwise be contributing to the economy by being bought and sold) is not laded with a lien for an indefinite period of time.

How Can a Cottage Grove, Wisconsin Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

If you find yourself on the receiving end of a tax lien in Wisconsin, you are going to have to wade through some substantial and confusing legal concerns.

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