En esta noticia
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can seize the bank accounts of taxpayers with tax debts who did not respond to collection notices. The mechanism remains active throughout September as part of the agency’s usual collection process.
The measure affects those who have already received a bill for taxes owed and did not pay or agree to an alternative. According to the IRS Publication 594, the bank levy is the final stage of a collection process with clearly defined prior steps.
Who can the IRS seize a bank account from?
The levy is not an immediate or automatic penalty for any debtor. The IRS reaches this stage only after sending at least two bills for the amount owed.
It then sends a Final Notice of Intent to Levy, with at least 30 days’ advance notice before carrying out the measure. That notice gives time to pay, appeal, or negotiate a payment plan.
If the taxpayer does not respond within that period, the IRS is authorized to notify the bank and withhold the funds available in the account.
The steps before a bank levy
- First bill for the tax owed, plus penalties and interest.
- Second bill if there was no payment or response.
- Final Notice of Intent to Levy, with 30 days’ advance notice.
- Notification to the bank and withholding of the available funds.
How does the levy affect you, and what can you do to avoid it?
Once notified, the bank withholds all available funds until the debt is covered. The account holder has 21 days to resolve any dispute over ownership of the money.
After that period, the institution transfers the amount to the IRS along with the interest generated. The agency does not offer additional extensions once that period has been met.
To avoid the levy, the taxpayer can request a payment plan, an Offer in Compromise for a lower amount, or ask for the collection to be deferred because of economic hardship. The IRS does not initiate levies while those requests are under review.
Options before the IRS levies the account
- Pay the full amount before the bill due date.
- Request a payment plan at IRS.gov/paymentplan.
- Request an Offer in Compromise if you cannot pay the full debt.
- Contact the number listed on the bill if you have any disagreement.