Property tax on income and properties in Tennessee is based on “the appraised value of the taxable property.” In addition to Tennessee’s “edge tax,” which imposes an additional tax on individuals or companies who buy or sell tax liens, Tennessee has another similar tax due mechanism: tax collection. A tax collection agency collects tax debt from taxpayers who fall behind their mortgage payments. Tax collection agencies then assign tax debt collectors to pursue taxpayers for payment, generally by making harassing telephone calls to taxpayers’ place of employment or residential addresses.
A tax lawyer can help taxpayers determine if they are eligible for tax debt relief under the “innovation tax” or otherwise. These tax attorneys represent taxpayers who have been assigned tax collections in the Tag bill, which is a legislative proposal that seeks to tax some new forms of business conduct. This bill would include computer software and certain online transactions. If a taxpayer has incurred tax on income and/or property in Tennessee and it is found that he cannot reasonably claim that tax as an income or other tax item, he may be eligible for tax relief under this section. A tax lawyer can assist in determining whether the client qualifies under the provisions of the Tagg bill.
Taxation of income and properties in Tennessee falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state tax authority. Tax law is typically complex and the Tagg bill will likely increase state tax attorneys’ fees. To avoid having to go to court to pursue collection, it is advisable to seek legal counsel from tax lawyers who specialize in income tax law. These tax lawyers will advise taxpayers of their rights and options under the tax code and will also discuss other possible sources of tax relief. In most cases, tax lawyers can successfully negotiate a repayment plan with the state tax authority.
One reason for seeking the assistance of tax attorneys is to retain their services when a tax lien holder files a lawsuit against you. Tax lien holders (lien holders are municipalities, county, state, or federal tax collectors) may not hold all of the tax debt owed by a property. Sometimes, they may not have even come up with all of the tax debt owed. If a tax lien holder does not receive payment in a timely manner or in an amount that is more than what they initially expected, they may choose to file a lawsuit in federal court to recover their funds. A tax attorney can help in negotiating a reasonable settlement that meets the tax lien holder’s needs without putting the tax attorney at risk of being financially tied to the case.
Federal tax liens do not generally have a discharge clause. Federal tax debt is only discharged when the United States government is unable to collect tax funds. In many instances, the lien can remain after the tax debt is collected, and the tax lien will continue to be enforced against your income for the life of the tax lien. In such a case, having a tax attorney help you in the negotiation process can save you a lot of money. If the IRS insists that the tax lien be discharged, then the tax attorney can file motions with the court to keep the tax debt from being automatically discharged.
Some tax attorneys offer a free initial consultation in order to discuss the various tax issues that you may encounter. Having a tax attorney represent you in negotiations with the IRS can be very beneficial. He can make sure that your tax debt is properly negotiated and that you do not become saddled with a lien that you cannot easily remove. For more information visit www.tennesseetaxattorney.net.