Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title IX Chapter 62C
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 62C, § 53 (2026)

Levy upon property for payment of tax

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 53. (a) If any person liable to pay any tax neglects or refuses to pay the same within ten days after demand, it shall be lawful for the commissioner to collect such tax, and such further sum as shall be sufficient to cover the expenses of the levy, by levy upon all property and rights to property belonging to such person or on which there is a lien provided in this chapter or in chapter sixty-five or sixty-five C for the payment of such tax including, without limitation, any periodic or lump sum payments from any state or local agency or authority, including unemployment compensation and other benefits not otherwise exempt, judgments, settlements and lottery winnings. If the commissioner makes a finding that the collection of such tax is in jeopardy, notice and demand for immediate payment of such tax may be made by the commissioner and, upon failure or refusal to pay such tax, collection thereof by levy shall be lawful without regard to the ten-day period provided in this section.

(b) The term ''levy'' as used in this chapter includes the power of distraint and seizure by any means. A levy shall extend only to property possessed and obligations existing at the time thereof. In any case in which the commissioner may levy upon property or rights to property, he may seize and sell such property or rights to property, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible.

(c) Whenever any property or right to property upon which levy has been made by virtue of subsection (a) is not sufficient to satisfy the claim of the commonwealth for which levy is made, the commissioner may, thereafter, and as often as may be necessary, proceed to levy in like manner upon any other property liable to levy of the person against whom such claim exists, until the amount due from him, together with all expenses, is fully paid.

(d) The effect of a levy on salary or wages payable to or received by a taxpayer shall be continuous from the date such levy is first made until the liability out of which such levy arose is satisfied or becomes unenforceable by reason of lapse of time. The effect of a levy on any other property or rights to property shall remain in effect for six months from the date such levy is first made until the liability out of which such levy arose is satisfied or becomes unenforceable by reason of lapse of time. With respect to a levy described in this subsection, the commissioner shall promptly release the levy when the liability out of which such levy arose is satisfied or becomes unenforceable by reason of lapse of time, and shall promptly notify the person upon whom such levy was made that such levy has been released.

(e) With respect to a levy on securities or a levy on shares of a mutual fund other than a money market mutual fund, the person or entity may sell or repurchase such securities or shares in the ordinary and usual course of investing, but may not receive funds resulting from such sale, for a time period of up to 45 days. If, during such time period, the commissioner has not rescinded the levy, extended the time period or notified the person or entity in possession of such securities or shares to remit funds, at the end of such time period such person shall forthwith liquidate sufficient securities or shares to satisfy the full amount of the lien and remit the liquidated funds to the commissioner.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1983–1999 · leading case: Prudential-Bache Sec., Inc. v. Comm'r of Revenue, 588 N.E.2d 639 (Mass. 1992).
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Prudential-Bache Sec., Inc. v. Comm'r of Revenue, 588 N.E.2d 639 (Mass. 1992). · cites it 4× “The controversy arose when the commissioner, relying on G. L. c. 62C, § 53 (1990 ed.), served levies on Prudential in Massachusetts in order to recover the amount of Massachusetts income taxes, interest, and penalties allegedly due from Syed Rahman, whom we shall call the…”
Aegean Fare, Inc. v. Massachusetts, Dep't of Revenue (In Re Aegean Fare, Inc.), 33 B.R. 745 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1983). · cites it 2× “57 in sales taxes pursuant to M.G.L. c. 62C § 53. On October 3, 1983, the Commonwealth took physical possession of the Debtor’s premises and the property located thereon under levy.”
Laubinger v. Dep't of Revenue, 672 N.E.2d 554 (Mass. App. Ct. 1996). · cites it 2× “The levy provisions in G. L. c. 62C, § 53(a), authorizing the department to collect taxes provide that it shall be lawful for the Commissioner to “levy upon all property and rights to property” (emphasis supplied).”
Taylor v. Adams (In Re Nash Concrete Form Co.), 159 B.R. 611 (D. Mass. 1993). “3 On or about January 4, 1990, after Nash neglected to respond to a demand for payment of withholding taxes, MDOR served a tax levy upon Nash’s bank account, pursuant to its power under Mass.Gen.Laws ch. 62C, § 53. As a result of the levy, MDOR received and kept a total of…”
Caposella v. Comm'r of Revenue, 527 N.E.2d 744 (Mass. App. Ct. 1988). · cites it 2× “The plaintiff moved for summary judgment claiming that the defendant was required to follow the corporation’s designation of the payment, that in the absence of a judicial determination, the plaintiff could not be held individually liable for such taxes, and that since he was…”
Taylor v. Massachusetts Dep't of Revenue (In Re Nash Concrete Form Co.), 151 B.R. 632 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1993). “On January 5, 1990, acting under M.G.L. c. 62C § 53, 3 DOR levied upon Nash’s bank account which contained $66,456.”
Jenkinson v. Adams, 9 Mass. L. Rptr. 537 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1999). · cites it 5× “Department of Revenue (“the Commissioner”), and the Treasurer for the Town of West Tisbury, Massachusetts (“the Treasurer”), seeking the return of money withheld from her salary by the Treasurer pursuant to a levy issued by the Commissioner, and a declaration stating that the…”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 62C, § 53(a) — 1 case
Laubinger v. Dep't of Revenue, 672 N.E.2d 554 (Mass. App. Ct. 1996). “The levy provisions in G. L. c. 62C, § 53(a), authorizing the department to collect taxes provide that it shall be lawful for the Commissioner to “levy upon all property and rights to property” (emphasis supplied).”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 62C, § 53(d) — 1 case
Jenkinson v. Adams, 9 Mass. L. Rptr. 537 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1999). “Department of Revenue (“the Commissioner”), and the Treasurer for the Town of West Tisbury, Massachusetts (“the Treasurer”), seeking the return of money withheld from her salary by the Treasurer pursuant to a levy issued by the Commissioner, and a declaration stating that the…”
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