What This Form Means

Form 8519, Taxpayer's Copy of Notice of Levy, tells you the IRS has served a levy on a third party that holds your money or property. That is usually your bank, but it can also be another party that holds money or property belonging to you. The IRS mails your copy a few days after the levy goes out, so the levy may already be in place when you read this.

Bank Levies

When a bank receives a levy, it must freeze the funds in your account up to the levy amount and hold them for 21 calendar days before sending them to the IRS. That holding period is your chance to resolve the levy. Money deposited after the bank received the levy is not covered by it. The IRS would need another levy to reach those funds.

Wage Levies

Form 8519 is not used for wage levies. Your employer gives you notice of a wage levy. A levy on wages generally continues with each paycheck until the debt is paid, other arrangements are made, or the levy is released. Part of your pay is exempt.

What to Do

  • Call the number on the form immediately.
  • Pay the balance, or set up a payment plan or another resolution. A levy can be released when you enter an agreement whose terms don't allow it to continue.
  • If the levy leaves you unable to pay basic, reasonable living expenses, ask for a release based on economic hardship.
  • If the account belongs to someone else, or the levy was issued in error, raise that right away.
  • Check whether you were sent a final notice of intent to levy with hearing rights. If that deadline hasn't passed, you may still be able to request a hearing.

Deadlines

For a bank levy, the clock is 21 days from when the bank received the levy, not from when you got this form. Don't wait.

If the IRS just levied your bank account or wages, call us at (813) 229-7100. We work to get levies released fast.