Notice of Intent to Levy Explained

Posted on April 29, 2022

A tax levy is one of the harshest collection mechanisms used by state taxing authorities and the IRS. It is the legal seizure of taxpayers’ assets when there are taxes owed. A tax levy is different from a tax lien in a sense that a levy is the seizure of the assets, while a lien is only a claim on the assets.

Taxation authorities are allowed to levy your:

Bank accounts
Investment accounts
Social security
Wages
Insurance policies
Physical assets

General Tax Levy Process

The actual implementation of a tax levy will never catch you off guard because you’ll get several notices from the IRS and other state tax authorities beforehand. Expect the IRS to go through the following steps before levying:

The IRS will file a tax return on your behalf, or you will file a tax return with money owed to assess the tax amount
You’ll get a tax bill sent to your last known address
You’ll get a Final Notice of Intent to Levy, and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing forwarded by the IRS; if you don’t pay what you owe within 30 days since you got the notice, the levy will start

Tax Levy Types

Typically, the taxing authorities look to find the easiest method for them to get the owed money back. Here are the common levy types:

Wage Garnishment:

The taxing authority contacts your current place of employment and the HR department, asking for a portion of your pay deducted from your paycheck. That portion is going for unpaid taxes, and the installment is decided depending on how much you owe. This type of levy will remain in place until your entire debt is settled.

Bank Levy:

The IRS contacts your bank, demanding all of your accounts are frozen. Then, 21 days later, what you owe is deducted from your account. In case you don’t have enough funds on your bank account, the IRS will keep coming back until they get the money you owe.

Property Seizure:

In satisfying the tax debt, the taxing authority may seize your assets and sell them. They could take items such as your house, car, or your boat.

1099 Levy:

If this form of a levy is issued, the IRS cannot go after anything owed to you in the future for work to be done, but they can levy any amount you are owed currently.

Seizure of Passports:

If you owe at least $50,000 or more, the IRS can request from the State Department to deny or revoke your passport.

The forms mentioned above aren’t the only types of tax levies issued by taxing authorities or the IRS. You can also have your retirement accounts, licenses, dividends, life insurances, rental income, commissions, and accounts receivable levied.

Stopping a Tax Levy

The taxing authorities usually attempt to find ways to agree with taxpayers than resort to levies. If you or a tax-professional working on your behalf react swiftly, you’ll be able to stop a levy in plenty different ways and iron out your IRS tax debts. Here are a few:

Enter into a payment plan
Submit an offer in compromise
Prove financial hardship
File an appeal

Contact Golden Tax Relief for Help

If you’ve found yourself in a situation you can’t solve, or would rather have it handled by a professional, contact us at Golden Tax Relief – our professionals will work and negotiate on your behalf to figure out the best method to get your levy released.