What is a Tax Levy?
A levy is a legal seizure of your assets or property to repay or satisfy an unpaid liability. While traditional levies require a collection agency to obtain a court order to move forward with a levy, the IRS itself has the power to authorize levies to collect delinquent tax balances.
Any property or asset can have a levy, including your house, car, boat, bank accounts, wages, retirement accounts, rental income, the cash loan value of a life insurance policy, or any other asset. The IRS can freeze a bank account, seize property, and otherwise take ownership of any of your assets to fulfill an unpaid tax bill, other than a list of exempt assets such as clothing, schoolbooks, and furniture.
When Will the IRS Issue a Levy?
For the IRS to issue a levy, three requirements must be satisfied.
The IRS sent you at least one (1) Notice and Demand for Payment (aka a tax bill)
The taxpayer has neglected/refused to pay the tax bill
The IRS sends you a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right To A Hearing at least thirty (30) days before initiating the levy.
The IRS can inform you of its intent to levy in several different ways, including serving you the notice in person, leaving the notice at your home or your work, or by sending it to your last known address through certified or registered mail.
Please Note: the IRS will not send you an intent to levy via phone call, email, or SMS message.If you receive a threat that the IRS is threatening to place a levy on your assets through any of these mediums, it is most likely a scam, and we recommend reporting it to the FTC immediately.
The IRS will enact a tax levy on your property after you have neglected or refused to pay any taxes owed upon receipt of the Notice and Demand for Payment. They will inform you of the intention with a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of your Right to a Hearing a minimum of 30 days before its start.
A levy ends when you have fully repaid your federal tax balance, the statute of limitations has ended, or you have the levy removed. If the tax levy creates a financial hardship for you – then you can apply to have it removed and seek other tax relief solutions.
How to Remove a Tax Levy?
If the IRS has placed an active levy on you, you have the right to appeal and have the levy released. The IRS can deny your appeal, and there can be some tedious legal discussions, so we regularly recommend hiring a tax attorney.
The IRS is required to release a levy if it is proven that:
You paid the amount owed in full
The period for collection ended before the IRS issued the levy
The release of the levy would allow the taxpayer to pay their tax liability
The taxpayer entered into a Fresh Start Initiative program, and the terms of the agreement do not allow the levy to continue
The levy creates an economic hardship for the taxpayer
Releasing the levy will not hinder the IRS’s ability to collect the amount owed
If you feel that you already meet one or more of these requirements or believe that the IRS issued a levy in error, they may appeal your case, and the levy released.
Does A Professional Need to Remove a Tax Levy?
To release a tax levy, taxpayers are not legally obligated to hire a representative. However, because tax levies are often only applied to a case that has been severely delinquent with the IRS, it is strongly advised to consult a tax attorney when attempting to release or appeal a levy.
The IRS’s ability to release a levy is up to its own discretion, and levy resolution often require an expertly built and presented case. While the IRS must comply with many guidelines when considering the release of a tax levy, it is ultimately the taxpayer’s responsibility to properly and accurately present their case.
Brightpath Tax Relief tax attorneys will work with the IRS on your behalf to achieve the best terms possible for a release from your levy. They won’t be bullied or tricked, plus they’ll know what terminology and financial documentation the IRS requires.
Our team has experience removing tax liens, stopping wage garnishments and bank levies, all through carefully crafted cases and strong deliberations.
Next Steps
For more information on releasing your current tax levy, call 866.500.6641.
Free Consultation 866.500.6641
What is a Tax Levy?
A levy is a legal seizure of your assets or property to repay or satisfy an unpaid liability. While traditional levies require a collection agency to obtain a court order to move forward with a levy, the IRS itself has the power to authorize levies to collect delinquent tax balances.
Any property or asset can have a levy, including your house, car, boat, bank accounts, wages, retirement accounts, rental income, the cash loan value of a life insurance policy, or any other asset. The IRS can freeze a bank account, seize property, and otherwise take ownership of any of your assets to fulfill an unpaid tax bill, other than a list of exempt assets such as clothing, schoolbooks, and furniture.
When Will the IRS Issue a Levy?
For the IRS to issue a levy, three requirements must be satisfied.
The IRS sent you at least one (1) Notice and Demand for Payment (aka a tax bill)
The taxpayer has neglected/refused to pay the tax bill
The IRS sends you a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right To A Hearing at least thirty (30) days before initiating the levy.
The IRS can inform you of its intent to levy in several different ways, including serving you the notice in person, leaving the notice at your home or your work, or by sending it to your last known address through certified or registered mail.
Please Note: the IRS will not send you an intent to levy via phone call, email, or SMS message.If you receive a threat that the IRS is threatening to place a levy on your assets through any of these mediums, it is most likely a scam, and we recommend reporting it to the FTC immediately.
The IRS will enact a tax levy on your property after you have neglected or refused to pay any taxes owed upon receipt of the Notice and Demand for Payment. They will inform you of the intention with a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of your Right to a Hearing a minimum of 30 days before its start.
A levy ends when you have fully repaid your federal tax balance, the statute of limitations has ended, or you have the levy removed. If the tax levy creates a financial hardship for you – then you can apply to have it removed and seek other tax relief solutions.
How to Remove a Tax Levy?
If the IRS has placed an active levy on you, you have the right to appeal and have the levy released. The IRS can deny your appeal, and there can be some tedious legal discussions, so we regularly recommend hiring a tax attorney.
The IRS is required to release a levy if it is proven that:
You paid the amount owed in full
The period for collection ended before the IRS issued the levy
The release of the levy would allow the taxpayer to pay their tax liability
The taxpayer entered into a Fresh Start Initiative program, and the terms of the agreement do not allow the levy to continue
The levy creates an economic hardship for the taxpayer
Releasing the levy will not hinder the IRS’s ability to collect the amount owed
If you feel that you already meet one or more of these requirements or believe that the IRS issued a levy in error, they may appeal your case, and the levy released.
Does A Professional Need to Remove a Tax Levy?
To release a tax levy, taxpayers are not legally obligated to hire a representative. However, because tax levies are often only applied to a case that has been severely delinquent with the IRS, it is strongly advised to consult a tax attorney when attempting to release or appeal a levy.
The IRS’s ability to release a levy is up to its own discretion, and levy resolution often require an expertly built and presented case. While the IRS must comply with many guidelines when considering the release of a tax levy, it is ultimately the taxpayer’s responsibility to properly and accurately present their case.
Brightpath Tax Relief tax attorneys will work with the IRS on your behalf to achieve the best terms possible for a release from your levy. They won’t be bullied or tricked, plus they’ll know what terminology and financial documentation the IRS requires.
Our team has experience removing tax liens, stopping wage garnishments and bank levies, all through carefully crafted cases and strong deliberations.
Next Steps
For more information on releasing your current tax levy, call 866.500.6641.
Bright Path Tax Relief
20280 SW Acacia St Suite 230
Newport Beach, CA 92660
866.500.6641