26 U.S.C. § 6331
Levy and distraint
If any person liable to pay any tax neglects or refuses to pay the same within 10 days after notice and demand, it shall be lawful for the Secretary 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 (except such property as is exempt under section 6334) belonging to such person or on which there is a lien provided in this chapter for the payment of such tax. Levy may be made upon the accrued salary or wages of any officer, employee, or elected official, of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any agency or instrumentality of the United States or the District of Columbia, by serving a notice of levy on the employer (as defined in section 3401(d)) of such officer, employee, or elected official. If the Secretary 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 Secretary and, upon failure or refusal to pay such tax, collection thereof by levy shall be lawful without regard to the 10-day period provided in this section.
The term “levy” as used in this title includes the power of distraint and seizure by any means. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e), a levy shall extend only to property possessed and obligations existing at the time thereof. In any case in which the Secretary 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).
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 United States for which levy is made, the Secretary 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.
Levy may be made under subsection (a) upon the salary or wages or other property of any person with respect to any unpaid tax only after the Secretary has notified such person in writing of his intention to make such levy.
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a levy if the Secretary has made a finding under the last sentence of subsection (a) that the collection of tax is in jeopardy.
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 such levy is released under section 6343.
No levy may be made on any property if the amount of the expenses which the Secretary estimates (at the time of levy) would be incurred by the Secretary with respect to the levy and sale of such property exceeds the fair market value of such property at the time of levy.
No levy may be made on the property of any person on any day on which such person (or officer or employee of such person) is required to appear in response to a summons issued by the Secretary for the purpose of collecting any underpayment of tax.
This subsection shall not apply if the Secretary finds that the collection of tax is in jeopardy.
If the Secretary approves a levy under this subsection, the effect of such levy on specified payments to or received by a taxpayer shall be continuous from the date such levy is first made until such levy is released. Notwithstanding section 6334, such continuous levy shall attach to up to 15 percent of any specified payment due to the taxpayer.
Paragraph (1) shall be applied by substituting “100 percent” for “15 percent” in the case of any specified payment due to a vendor of property, goods, or services sold or leased to the Federal Government and by substituting “100 percent” for “15 percent” in the case of any specified payment due to a Medicare provider or supplier under title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
Notwithstanding section 7421(a), a levy or collection proceeding prohibited by this subsection may be enjoined (during the period such prohibition is in force) by the court in which the proceeding under paragraph (1) is brought.
The period of limitations under section 6502 shall be suspended for the period during which the Secretary is prohibited under this subsection from making a levy.
For purposes of this subsection, a proceeding is pending beginning on the date such proceeding commences and ending on the date that a final order or judgment from which an appeal may be taken is entered in such proceeding.
For purposes of applying the provisions of this subchapter, no levy may be made on any property or right to property which is to be sold under section 6335 until a thorough investigation of the status of such property has been completed.
Section 32101 of the FAST Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(4)(G), is section 32101 of Pub. L. 114–94, which enacted section 7345 of this title and section 2714a of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and amended this section and sections 6103, 6320, and 7508 of this title.
The Railroad Retirement Act, referred to in subsec. (h)(2)(C), is act Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 812, as amended generally by Pub. L. 93–445, title I, § 101,
The Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, referred to in subsec. (h)(2)(C), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 680, 52 Stat. 1094, which is classified principally to chapter 11 (§ 351 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 367 of Title 45 and Tables.
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (h)(3), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XVIII of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.
2015—Subsec. (d)(4)(G). Pub. L. 114–94 added subpar. (G).
Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 114–10 substituted “and by substituting ‘100 percent’ ” for “and by substituting ‘30 percent’ ”.
2014—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 113–295 inserted “and by substituting ‘30 percent’ for ‘15 percent’ in the case of any specified payment due to a Medicare provider or supplier under title XVIII of the Social Security Act” before period at end.
2011—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 112–56 substituted “property, goods, or services” for “goods or services”.
2004—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 108–357 added par. (3).
2002—Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 107–147 reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (i) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.”
2000—Subsec. (k)(3). Pub. L. 106–554 substituted “(3) and (4)” for “(3), (4), and (5)”.
1998—Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 105–206, § 6010(f), substituted “If the Secretary approves a levy under this subsection, the effect of such levy” for “The effect of a levy”.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3433(a), added subsec. (i). Former subsec. (i) redesignated (j).
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3444(a), added subsec. (j). Former subsec. (j) redesignated (k).
Pub. L. 105–206, § 3433(a), redesignated subsec. (i) as (j).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3462(b), added subsec. (k). Former subsec. (k) redesignated (l).
Pub. L. 105–206, § 3444(a), redesignated subsec. (j) as (k).
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 105–206, § 3462(b), redesignated subsec. (k) as (l).
1997—Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 105–34 added subsec. (h) and redesignated former subsec. (h) as (i).
1988—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6236(a)(1), (2), substituted “30-day” for “10-day” in heading and “30 days” for “10 days” in text.
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6236(a)(3), added par. (4).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6236(b)(1), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) consisted of two pars. relating to effect of continuing levy on salary and wages and release and notice of release of levy.
Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6236(d), added subsecs. (f) and (g). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (h).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–647, § 6236(b)(2), (d), redesignated subsec. (f) as (h) and added par. (3).
1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “subsection (e)” for “subsection (d)(3)”.
1982—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–248 inserted authority to levy upon property other than salary or wages, substituted “person” for “individual” wherever appearing, designated second sentence of former par. (1) as par. (2) and in par. (2)(C) as so designated substituted “certified or registered mail” for “mail”, and redesignated former par. (2) as (3) and former par. (3) as subsec. (e).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–248 redesignated former subsec. (d)(3) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–248 redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1209(d)(2), 1906(b)(13)(A), substituted in second sentence “Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3), a levy” for “A levy” and struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1209(d)(4), 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out provision that no additional notice shall be required in the case of successive levies with respect to such tax and “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1209(d)(1), added par. (3).
1971—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 92–178 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e).
1966—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–719 inserted sentence providing that a levy shall extend only to property possessed and obligations existing at the time thereof.
Pub. L. 114–10, title IV, § 413(b),
Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 209(b),
Pub. L. 112–56, title III, § 301(b),
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 887(b),
Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 416(e)(2),
Pub. L. 105–206, title III, § 3433(b),
Pub. L. 105–206, title III, § 3444(b),
Pub. L. 105–206, title III, § 3462(e),
Amendment by section 6010(f) of Pub. L. 105–206 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105–34, to which such amendment relates, see section 6024 of Pub. L. 105–206, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1024(b),
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6236(h),
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective as if included in the provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, to which such amendment relates, see section 715 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.
Pub. L. 97–248, title III, § 349(b),
Amendment by section 1209(d)(1), (2), (4) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective only with respect to levies made after
Pub. L. 92–178, title II, § 211(b),
Amendment by Pub. L. 89–719 applicable after