Tax Lien Lawyers in Germantown

A "lien" in Germantown, Wisconsin is a type of security interest that one person or entity has in someone else's property. Typically, 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 Germantown, Wisconsin tax authorities, to collect taxes that the property-owner has failed to pay.

Tax Liens in Germantown, Wisconsin are generally 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 Germantown, Wisconsin

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

At this point, they will send the taxpayer a written notice stating that they owe a certain amount of money in back taxes, and that they have a small window of time (often 10 days or less) to pay it.

If this deadline expires, and the debtor does not pay the taxes they owe, the lien will take effect automatically. When this occurs, the IRS or Wisconsin tax agency will have significant rights against the taxpayer's property.

But, these rights are limited. In Germantown, Wisconsin, 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." Furthermore, it acknowledges the fact that any encumbrance on a piece of property, such as a lien, makes the property less valuable. By ensuring that the lien will either be satisfied or expire within 10 years, this prevents property from being withheld from the stream of commerce indefinitely.

How Can a Germantown, Wisconsin Tax Lien Lawyer Help?

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

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