Around this time of year, we all take a look at our past 12 months of finances. Filing taxes forces us to recount our incomes, debts, and overall monetary matters. On top of all our typical credit card debts, medical bills, car loans, and other debts, we can all be susceptible to tax debts.
If you’re struggling to pay tax debts in addition to meeting your other debt obligations, it might be time to look at debt relief options. When the point comes where your debts are severely affecting your quality of life, it’s important to take positive action to find balance for your finances. With the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd., you can gain the many advantages that debt relief through filing for bankruptcy in Worthington, MN provides.
Filing for bankruptcy can help you resolve many types of debt in two ways: discharge or reorganization. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the majority of your debts will be discharged and you can claim exemption amounts to protect your property from liquidation. With a steadier income, you can choose to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and have your debts reorganized into a repayment plan limited to three to five years, and some of your debts will be discharged at 0-100%.
While many debts are discharged and reorganized in the process of bankruptcy, there are some priority debts that are exempt from all types of bankruptcy cases. For many, this includes tax debts. Some tax debts can be discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy or included in a repayment plan under Chapter 13.
Though some tax debts are not discharged through the bankruptcy process, there are other tax debts that can be treated in bankruptcy, including income tax debts secured by the government. Put simply, secured tax debts are debts that the IRS has placed a lien on your property to protect their right to repayment. This typically occurs when a debt has been left unpaid for an extended period or when the government foresees your inability to pay a tax debt.
Liens on tax debts turn into levies when collection action is taken. You can prevent collection action by filing for bankruptcy and getting an automatic stay placed on all creditor action – including the IRS. Additionally, you may be able to completely dissolve the lien and the debt in your bankruptcy case. In fact, most secured tax debts that qualify for the bankruptcy process can be resolved with the best outcome for you.
Understanding the difference between priority and non-priority tax debts is important for all bankruptcy cases that involve tax debts in any capacity. If you suspect or know for sure your tax debt is considered a secured debt by the IRS, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 to learn more about its treatment in bankruptcy. If you’re ready to start filing for bankruptcy in Worthington, MN today, the advice and assistance of Behm attorneys is important to building a successful case.
