What happens when a levy is issued
Unlike a lien, which secures the government's claim, a levy is the actual seizure of funds — pulled directly from a bank account, garnished from wages, or taken from other income sources. A bank levy typically freezes the funds in your account for a holding period before they're sent to the IRS, which creates a narrow window to act.
By the time a levy notice arrives, the IRS has usually already sent prior notices that went unanswered. The good news is a levy can often still be released, stopped, or resolved shortly after it takes effect.
How we intervene
- Contacting the IRS immediately to request a levy release or hold
- Establishing an installment agreement or other resolution to lift the levy
- Demonstrating financial hardship where it applies
- Working to prevent a levy from being issued in the first place, wherever it isn't already too late
Time is the biggest factor
The faster we're brought in after a levy notice arrives, the more options remain — including stopping a bank levy before the holding period ends.
Once a levy is in place, time works against you. Move quickly.