Tax Lien Lawyers in Waunakee

A "lien" in Waunakee, 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 funds 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 Waunakee, Wisconsin tax authorities, to gather taxes that the property-owner has failed to pay.

However, a tax lien in Waunakee, Wisconsin 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 Waunakee, Wisconsin

In Waunakee, Wisconsin, the procedure for imposing a tax lien is relatively simple. First, the IRS makes a decision that a person is delinquent in their tax requirement.

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 given period of time (typically 10 days) to pay what they owe.

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

Nonetheless, there are limits to how and when a tax lien can be enforced, at least under federal law. The IRS has 10 years to enforce a tax lien in Waunakee, Wisconsin or anywhere else in the U.S. If it never bothers to take action to seize property that's subject to a tax lien, the lien simply ceases to exist after 10 years. This rule is in place to ensure that the government does not sit on its rights, and to keep potentially-valuable property from being encumbered forever. Essentially, it creates a measure of certainty for both parties.

How Can a Waunakee, 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 complicated legal concerns.

Therefore, it's important that you contact a tax attorney in Waunakee, Wisconsin to ensure that whatever legal rights you have in this situation are defended. Your attorney will also be able to advise you on how to best deal with the situation.