Fort Lauderdale Tax Lien Lawyer

Fort Lauderdale Tax Lien Attorney

When you have unpaid tax debt, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send you a notice of nonpayment, or a tax bill, and try to contact you regarding your debt. If you ignore these attempts to contact you, the agency can take other actions. This includes a tax lien being placed on your home, your car, and other property. If you can’t financially pay your tax debt, a Fort Lauderdale tax lien lawyer can help you assess how to effectively negotiate the debt and stop the lien.

Hire a Tax Lien Lawyer

At TaxSmith, LLC, our attorneys bring transparent and realistic solutions to your tax problems. Our firm has served Florida taxpayers for more than a decade, and we understand the many unique circumstances that individuals, families, and businesses deal with every day. We want to bring you clear and straightforward legal advice.

Tax liens can have serious consequences on your life, so it’s important that you don’t take them lightly. With a skilled attorney from our firm, you can understand your options. There is an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center Office located near Fort Lauderdale at 1248 N. University Drive and TaxSmith, LLC can represent you and your interests at this office.

The Basics of a Tax Lien in Fort Lauderdale

In 2024, the IRS assessed more than 50.7 million civil penalties, which totaled more than $84 billion. The greatest number of these penalties was on individual, estate, and trust income taxes, while most of the penalties by value were for employment taxes.

When you owe the IRS taxes, particularly a large amount that you have failed to address, the agency can take collection actions to recover that debt. One of these actions is a tax lien. A tax lien is a governmental claim on your property. It can be filed by the IRS or the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR). The lien claims your property as collateral for your tax debt.

If you do nothing, the property will eventually be seized to pay off your debt. The IRS filed almost 197,000 notices of federal tax liens, and almost 313,800 notices of levies, or seizures, to third parties. The IRS or DOR can put multiple liens on your personal property, such as your home, other real estate, your vehicles, your business interests, and your bank accounts.

What Is a Tax Lien Sale?

If you do not address the tax lien on your property, the IRS can eventually seize the property in a levy. It can then sell that property in a tax lien sale. The tax certificate can be sold at an auction tax deed sale, so that the IRS can recover some of what it is owed.

Eventually, the party that owns the tax certificate will be able to submit the certificate for the tax deed of the property. This means they can eventually own the property. It’s important to act before this so you can avoid losing your personal property. There are several points in the process where you could negotiate the tax debt and potentially avoid seizure and loss of the property. This even includes after the tax certificate has been sold.

What Does a Tax Lien Do?

There are many negative financial and personal consequences to a tax lien. This includes:

• Harming your credit score and affecting your ability to secure credit
• Preventing you from selling or refinancing assets
• Agency interference in the buying and selling of assets
• Harming the reputation of a business you own and its profit
• Following you even if you file for bankruptcy
• Preventing you from being hired in specific fields of employment
• Increasing the number of scammers who use the public information of the lien against you

Eventually, you lose the property. It is essential that you act as soon as possible when you receive notice of a tax lien.

FAQs About Fort Lauderdale Tax Lien Law

How Do Tax Liens Work in Florida?

A tax lien in Florida is placed by a tax agency as a claim on your personal property if you have significant unpaid taxes. The lien can attach to any property you have or obtain, such as your home, vehicles, bank accounts, or other real estate. The lien means you cannot sell the asset or refinance it. If you continue to ignore your tax debt, then the agency can eventually seize the assets that it has a lien on.

Why Should I Hire a Tax Lien Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?

Hiring a tax lien lawyer in Fort Lauderdale is extremely beneficial. With the support and guidance of an attorney, you are more likely to successfully negotiate and settle your tax debt. This negotiation can help you save money and stop collection actions, including seizure of property. If your tax debt is cleared through negotiation, then the tax lien may be removed entirely. This entire process is less stressful with the help of an attorney.

Can You Fight a Tax Lien?

You can fight a tax lien, and the most effective way to stop a tax lien is to pay off the tax debt that the lien is for. If you cannot pay the debt, then you may be able to negotiate the tax debt with the agency you owe. Options like penalty abatement, an installment agreement, or an offer in compromise may help you reduce or eliminate your tax debt and avoid seizure of your property from the tax lien.

What Is the Cost of a Tax Lien Lawyer in Florida?

The cost of a tax lien lawyer in Florida will depend on how complex your case is and the lawyer’s experience. If the tax lien can be negotiated without going to court, the costs are likely to be less significant compared to cases that require litigation. Working with an attorney can help you clear a lien at a lower cost. For the specific costs you could incur, speak with a Florida tax lien lawyer and inquire about their rates during your initial consultation.

Contact Fort Lauderdale Tax Lien Lawyer

If you have received notice from the DOR or IRS about collection actions like a tax lien, TaxSmith, LLC can help you. There are options if you cannot pay your debt. Reach out to our firm and learn what is available to you.