What is the Process for an IRS Tax Levy on a Bank Account, and What is the Timeline? (2024)

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What is the Process for an IRS Tax Levy on a Bank Account, and What is the Timeline? ›

What is the Process for an IRS Tax Levy on a Bank Account, and What is the Timeline? Generally, the IRS can't issue a tax levy until it sends out several written notices—generally four. It can take up to six months or even longer from the due date of your payment, until the IRS can legally levy on your bank account.

When the levy is on a bank account, the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provides a 21-day waiting period for complying with the levy. The waiting period is intended to allow you time to contact the IRS and arrange to pay the tax or notify the IRS of errors in the levy. Generally, IRS levies are delivered via the mail.

An IRS levy permits the legal seizure of your property to satisfy a tax debt. It can garnish wages, take money in your bank or other financial account, seize and sell your vehicle(s), real estate and other personal property.

They are able to levy up to the total amount you owe in back taxes, and the bank must comply. For many individuals, this might mean seizing everything in their entire bank account. The only way you are able to release a levy due to hardship is if you make a satisfactory resolution.

The bank levy allows a bank to freeze the account(s) of a debtor until all the sought-after debt is repaid in full. If the levy is not lifted, the creditor can take the funds from the bank account and apply them to the total debt owed. A bank levy is not a one-time event.

Generally, the IRS can't issue a tax levy until it sends out several written notices—generally four. It can take up to six months or even longer from the due date of your payment, until the IRS can legally levy on your bank account.

With an IRS levy on your bank account, funds are frozen as of the date and time the levy is received, but it does not normally affect funds you deposit after the levy date.

For your bank levy to go away, you'll typically need to repay the debt you owe, work out a settlement on the debt or make payment arrangements that satisfy the creditor. Regardless of the type of debt, the bank usually has to wait 21 days after a levy is received before surrendering your money.

Some types of income are protected, or exempt, from a bank levy. For example, only 25% of your wages can be taken. Money from Social Security can't be taken at all. If protected money was taken, you must let the judgment creditor or debt collector know to get it back.

Can the IRS put a hold on your bank account? ›

Freezing bank accounts is one such tool that the IRS can use when all other attempts to collect unpaid taxes have been exhausted. This action, though serious, is not taken lightly and is usually reserved for cases where taxpayers have repeatedly ignored their tax obligations or have engaged in fraudulent activities.

What if a levy on my wages, bank, or other account is causing a hardship? Contact the IRS at the telephone number on the levy or correspondence immediately and explain your financial situation. If the levy on your wages is creating an immediate economic hardship, the levy must be released.

Any bank accounts that are under the taxpayer's name can be levied by the IRS. This includes institutional accounts, corporate and business accounts, and individual accounts. Accounts that are not under the taxpayer's name cannot be used by the IRS in a levy. Levies can impact property and assets other than accounts.

While your levied account is frozen, you can open a new one. Be sure to move any automatic bill payments that you've set up to the new account so that you don't miss any payments and fall deeper into debt.

Contact the IRS immediately to resolve your tax liability and request a levy release. The IRS can also release a levy if it determines that the levy is causing an immediate economic hardship. If the IRS denies your request to release the levy, you may appeal this decision.

In California, you will not get notice from the creditor that this is the collection action they are taking. Instead, you will get notice from your bank that a bank levy has been processed and that the monies in your account are now frozen.

Contact the IRS immediately to resolve your tax liability and request a levy release. The IRS can also release a levy if it determines that the levy is causing an immediate economic hardship. If the IRS denies your request to release the levy, you may appeal this decision.

Contact the IRS at the telephone number on the levy or correspondence immediately and explain your financial situation. Service is avaible from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. If the levy is creating an immediate economic hardship, the levy may be released.

Can You Remove a Levy? To remove or lift the levy, you must either pay the debt in full or show that the funds in the account are exempt from the levy. Similar to wage garnishment exemptions, certain types of income in bank accounts may be exempt or excepted from levy.

For your bank levy to go away, you'll typically need to repay the debt you owe, work out a settlement on the debt or make payment arrangements that satisfy the creditor. Regardless of the type of debt, the bank usually has to wait 21 days after a levy is received before surrendering your money.