26 USC 6331 - Levy and distraint

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 30, 2026

§ 6331.

Levy and distraint

(a)

Authority of Secretary

(b)

Seizure and sale of property

(c)

Successive seizures

(d)

Requirement of notice before levy

(1)

In general

(2)

30-day requirement

The notice required under paragraph (1) shall be—

(A)

given in person,

(B)

left at the dwelling or usual place of business of such person, or

(C)

sent by certified or registered mail to such persons’s last known address,

no less than 30 days before the day of the levy.

(3)

Jeopardy

(4)

Information included with notice

The notice required under paragraph (1) shall include a brief statement which sets forth in simple and nontechnical terms—

(A)

the provisions of this title relating to levy and sale of property,

(B)

the procedures applicable to the levy and sale of property under this title,

(C)

the administrative appeals available to the taxpayer with respect to such levy and sale and the procedures relating to such appeals,

(D)

the alternatives available to taxpayers which could prevent levy on the property (including installment agreements under section 6159),

(E)

the provisions of this title relating to redemption of property and release of liens on property,

(F)

the procedures applicable to the redemption of property and the release of a lien on property under this title, and

(G)

the provisions of section 7345 relating to the certification of seriously delinquent tax debts and the denial, revocation, or limitation of passports of individuals with such debts pursuant to section 32101 of the FAST Act.

(e)

Continuing levy on salary and wages

(f)

Uneconomical levy

(g)

Levy on appearance date of summons

(1)

In general

(2)

No application in case of jeopardy

(h)

Continuing levy on certain payments

(1)

In general

(2)

Specified payment

For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term “specified payment” means—

(A)

any Federal payment other than a payment for which eligibility is based on the income or assets (or both) of a payee,

(B)

any payment described in paragraph (4), (7), (9), or (11) of section 6334(a), and

(C)

any annuity or pension payment under the Railroad Retirement Act or benefit under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.

(3)

Increase in levy for certain payments

(i)

No levy during pendency of proceedings for refund of divisible tax

(1)

In general

No levy may be made under subsection (a) on the property or rights to property of any person with respect to any unpaid divisible tax during the pendency of any proceeding brought by such person in a proper Federal trial court for the recovery of any portion of such divisible tax which was paid by such person if—

(A)

the decision in such proceeding would be res judicata with respect to such unpaid tax; or

(B)

such person would be collaterally estopped from contesting such unpaid tax by reason of such proceeding.

(2)

Divisible tax

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “divisible tax” means—

(A)

any tax imposed by subtitle C; and

(B)

the penalty imposed by section 6672 with respect to any such tax.

(3)

Exceptions

(A)

Certain unpaid taxes

This subsection shall not apply with respect to any unpaid tax if—

(i)

the taxpayer files a written notice with the Secretary which waives the restriction imposed by this subsection on levy with respect to such tax; or

(ii)

the Secretary finds that the collection of such tax is in jeopardy.

(B)

Certain levies

This subsection shall not apply to—

(i)

any levy to carry out an offset under section 6402; and

(ii)

any levy which was first made before the date that the applicable proceeding under this subsection commenced.

(4)

Limitation on collection activity; authority to enjoin collection

(A)

Limitation on collection

No proceeding in court for the collection of any unpaid tax to which paragraph (1) applies shall be begun by the Secretary during the pendency of a proceeding under such paragraph. This subparagraph shall not apply to—

(i)

any counterclaim in a proceeding under such paragraph; or

(ii)

any proceeding relating to a proceeding under such paragraph.

(B)

Authority to enjoin

(5)

Suspension of statute of limitations on collection

(6)

Pendency of proceeding

(j)

No levy before investigation of status of property

(1)

In general

(2)

Elements in investigation

For purposes of paragraph (1), an investigation of the status of any property shall include—

(A)

a verification of the taxpayer’s liability;

(B)

the completion of an analysis under subsection (f);

(C)

the determination that the equity in such property is sufficient to yield net proceeds from the sale of such property to apply to such liability; and

(D)

a thorough consideration of alternative collection methods.

(k)

No levy while certain offers pending or installment agreement pending or in effect

(1)

Offer-in-compromise pending

No levy may be made under subsection (a) on the property or rights to property of any person with respect to any unpaid tax—

(A)

during the period that an offer-in-compromise by such person under section 7122 of such unpaid tax is pending with the Secretary; and

(B)

if such offer is rejected by the Secretary, during the 30 days thereafter (and, if an appeal of such rejection is filed within such 30 days, during the period that such appeal is pending).

For purposes of subparagraph (A), an offer is pending beginning on the date the Secretary accepts such offer for processing.

(2)

Installment agreements

No levy may be made under subsection (a) on the property or rights to property of any person with respect to any unpaid tax—

(A)

during the period that an offer by such person for an installment agreement under section 6159 for payment of such unpaid tax is pending with the Secretary;

(B)

if such offer is rejected by the Secretary, during the 30 days thereafter (and, if an appeal of such rejection is filed within such 30 days, during the period that such appeal is pending);

(C)

during the period that such an installment agreement for payment of such unpaid tax is in effect; and

(D)

if such agreement is terminated by the Secretary, during the 30 days thereafter (and, if an appeal of such termination is filed within such 30 days, during the period that such appeal is pending).

(3)

Certain rules to apply

Rules similar to the rules of—

(A)

paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (i), and

(B)

except in the case of paragraph (2)(C), paragraph (5) of subsection (i),

shall apply for purposes of this subsection.

(l)

Cross references

(1)

For provisions relating to jeopardy, see subchapter A of chapter 70.

(2)

For proceedings applicable to sale of seized property see section 6335.

(3)

For release and notice of release of levy, see section 6343.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 783; Pub. L. 89–719, title I, § 104(a), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1135; Pub. L. 92–178, title II, § 211(a), Dec. 10, 1971, 85 Stat. 520; Pub. L. 94–455, title XII, § 1209(d)(1), (2), (4), title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1710, 1711, 1834; Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 349(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 639; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 714(o), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 964; Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6236(a), (b), (d), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3737, 3739;

cite as: 26 USC 6331