Erroneous IRS Tax Levy? What is Your Recourse?

If the IRS issues an erroneous IRS Tax Levy on aan individual's property (opposed to that of a
taxpayer's bank account, causing a bank fee or fees,third-party); and 2) violates a legal procedure or law,
such as overdrafts, penalties, etc., the individual has asuch as Due Process. To claim an individual has
right to a refund for the charges. Not to exceed $1000,suffered an erroneous IRS Tax Levy necessitates a
the reimbursement must be filed for prior to a yeartimeline and analysis that shows when/how the IRS
after the charges accrued.committed an error in the assessment of the bank
The IRS has the authority to issue bank levies on anylevy. In addition, the taxpayer must not have in any
account bearing the name of the individual whoway contributed to the error, nor have refused to
accrued the tax liability, whether that account is apromptly answer any questions or requests for
single or joint account. Generally, the IRS issues arelevant information prior to the levy's issuance.
Notice of Levy to the individual's bank, which attachesA refundable bank fee must be the direct result of the
the levy to all the individual's accounts. The bank thenbank's following the instructions of the levy. Most
freezes all funds on deposit in those accounts,commonly, such a fee accrues as either a check fee
disallowing access to funds for 21 days thereafter.or overdraft fee that resulted from the 21-day freeze
During this time, the individual/bank has the ability toon the bank account's funds.
address problems regarding ownership and whetherFill out IRS Form 8546, the Claim for Reimbursement
each/every account may be legally collected. At theof Bank Charges Incurred Due to Erroneous Service
same time any check cashed for any of the seizedLevy or Misplaced Payment Check, in order to regain
accounts will bounce, incurring a bank fee. After theany bank fee resulting from an erroneous IRS Tax
21-day timer has expired, the bank is legally obligatedLevy. If successful, the taxpayer will be paid either by
to submit all seized funds to the IRS with any interestelectronic transfer, requiring the individual to disclose
accrued during the freeze.banking information, or by check.
The IRS deems a levy erroneous if it: 1) aims to collect