Whenever we hear the word “tax” we usually tend to think the worst, but that is not always true, especially if you’re talking about tax liens. The investors who buy tax liens stand to make a substantial profit, but things are not so good for the person served with the tax lien.

This brings us to the question, “What are tax liens?” Tax liens are government claims for unpaid taxes against a property. To put it simply, when a property owner does not pay his due against the property tax that he is liable, the government can place a lien against the property for unpaid income taxes. This can happen at the federal level or state level, depending on whether the property is in a state that collects income tax.

The concept works on a simple principle that the property taxes are secured by the real property. It means whenever there is default in payment of tax on that property, the appropriate tax governing authority has the right to place a lien on the property.

All 50 states in the U.S. set a real property tax. While the particular laws differ, some states permit the tax lien to be converted into a first lien on the property. This lien is available to be sold at auction as a tax lien certificate. If you have placed a successful bid, then you are assured of one of two things: A rate of interest and penalties as decided by the state that the delinquent taxpayer is required pay in order to release the lien, or the title to the property in case the delinquent taxpayer fails to pay up within a stipulated time set by the jurisdiction.

As a property owner your ownership rights get restrict once a tax lien is placed against the title to a property. In financial terms, you would no longer be able to use your property as collateral to procure any loan until the tax lien is paid.