You might find yourself in contact with a taxing authority regarding your back property taxes. If this is the case, you will always want to speak to a property tax attorney for advice. Otherwise, you might find yourself confused by the laws regarding property taxes and may make a mistake that can cost you a considerable amount of money.

The Consequences of Not Paying Your Property Taxes

If you do not pay your property taxes, you might find yourself in foreclosure if your property taxes are 20 years old or less. Your property tax lien is given priority over any other debts. However, the authorities responsible for collecting your taxes can be negotiated with, especially when you have help from an experienced property tax attorney.

Negotiations With the IRS

An experienced attorney may be able to settle your tax debt for less than what you owe. They may be able to seek a penalty abatement or may be able to come up with a payment plan. With a payment plan, you may be able to avoid having your home foreclosed on.

Mass Appraisals

The IRS will sometimes rely on "mass appraisals" to appraise a large number of properties. This involves appraising many properties at once using standardized procedures. However, your attorney might argue that your property is more unique and requires its own method of appraisal.

IRS Notices

When the IRS needs something from you, they might send a notice. Under these circumstances, it can be difficult to know how to proceed because the language can often be vague. An attorney can help you understand which actions to take.

Criminal Investigations

You will always want to hire a property tax attorney when you are accused of tax evasion or tax fraud. Tax evasion is when you are capable of paying your taxes but are taking steps to avoid paying. Tax fraud can include any number of crimes including an attempt to conceal your income from the IRS.

The majority of criminal investigations into tax fraud lead to convictions. For this reason, you will need help from a property tax attorney who is experienced in clearing up these type of legal matters. You may be able to have your charges reduced or dismissed.

The laws involving property taxes can be difficult to understand and often change. Therefore, you'll want to contact a property tax attorney quickly. The best property tax attorneys to choose from are those who are members of the International Association of Assessing Officers.