What Exactly is an IRS Tax Lien and Do I Need a Lawyer to Help?
An IRS tax lien may occur when there is a large sum of money owed to the IRS. The IRS can then put a “lien” on your property. This means that the owner is not able to sell or refinance the property until they have satisfied the IRS. A tax lien will also make it difficult to simply give the property away. More or less, despite technically being the owner, when IRS tax liens are imposed, those who owe money have limited rights to their property. Luckily, there are a number of ways to obtain lien withdrawals, and many are unaware whether or not a tax attorney is necessary for resolution. First, it’s important to know what a tax lawyer is exactly. Taxes.About.com states this about tax lawyers:
“Tax attorneys must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and must be admitted to the state bar. Those are the minimum requirements for practicing law. Additionally, tax attorneys should have advanced training in tax law. Most will have a master of laws (LL.M.) degree in taxation. Some tax attorneys also have a background in accounting. If you are facing a complex accounting as well as legal matter, you might want to looking for an attorney who is also a Certified Public Accountant.”
So, is this kind of special training necessary to handle your tax lien case? Generally, it depends on the specifications of a case. Some cases may be more complicated than others, in which case a tax attorney or tax liabilities relief specialist should be brought it. In other cases, the realities are pretty cut and dry, and the taxpayer may be able to resolve the issue on their own. It’s also important to be aware that once a lien is put on your property, the records of the lien are public. This means anyone, including potential buyers, can do an IRS tax lien search online, or through their county’s public records office.
Since each tax case is unique, it’s hard to say whether or not an attorney is necessary in tax lien matters. If there are other complicated elements involved, it’s best to have a professional look over your case before making any major decisions.
(Source: When Do You Need a Tax Attorney? http://taxes.about.com/od/findataxpreparer/qt/tax_attorney.htm)
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