The IRS is generally required to send you a notice before levying or seizing your property. You may be able to prevent a levy by timely requesting a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing, and negotiating a payment plan or otherwise contesting the levy. You have 30 days from the date…
The IRS has broad authority when attempting to collect delinquent tax, but there are limitations to what collections actions they can take. The IRS generally has to follow certain procedures before they can levy, or seize, your property, and certain property is exempt from IRS seizure. Generally, the IRS must…
The IRS must generally issue a notice to a taxpayer before proceeding with a levy on their assets. The taxpayer is given 30-days to request a Collection Due Process hearing (CDP hearing), where the taxpayer can attempt to avoid the levy action by negotiating an installment agreement, disputing the tax…
The Collection Appeals Program (CAP) is an IRS procedure available to appeal a broad range of collection actions. However, it does have some pitfalls when compared to a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing, so consider consulting with a tax attorney if you are not sure which procedure to use. The…
If you fail to file your tax return when you have a legal obligation to do so, the IRS can use the Substitute for Return (SFR) procedure to file it for you. There are several disadvantages to this scenario from a taxpayer’s perspective, and you should take action immediately upon…
A Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing may be your last chance to prevent an IRS collection action, such as bank account levy. It is also an opportunity request that the IRS withdraw or release its tax lien. At a CDP hearing, you may request an installment agreement, offer in compromise,…
Your unresolved tax debt could prevent you from taking your next trip overseas. The IRS has the right to certify to the State Department that an individual has seriously delinquent tax debt. Upon receiving this certification, the State Department will generally not issue you a new passport, and will revoke…
The IRS may be able to collect delinquent tax debt from a non-liable spouse in some cases. This means that tax debt that was accrued by one spouse on a return filed separately, may still result in collection action being taken on the other spouse. However, the IRS cannot pursue…
An IRS levy on your wages or other income is limited by a defined exemption amount. Your exemption will be determined based on the standard deduction, your filing status, and the number of exemptions you claim. All income that exceeds the exemption amount will be taken by the IRS. Unlike…
The IRS can levy the funds in your retirement accounts, including 401(K) plans, IRAs, profit sharing plans, SEP-IRAs, and Keogh plans. Many taxpayers may be unaware that the IRS has this authority because retirement plans are often protected from creditors. However, the IRS has powers that exceed those of most…