Code of Federal Regulations · Section
§ 301.6331-4 — -4 Restrictions On Levy While Installment Agreements Are Pending Or In Effect
26 C.F.R. § 301.6331-4
(a) Prohibition on levy—(1) In general. No levy may be made to collect a tax liability that is the subject of an installment agreement during the period that a proposed installment agreement is pending with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for 30 days immediately following the rejection of a proposed installment agreement, during the period that an installment agreement is in effect, and for 30 days immediately following the termination of an installment agreement. If, within the 30 days following the rejection or termination of an installment agreement, the taxpayer files an appeal with the IRS Office of Appeals, no levy may be made while the rejection or termination is being considered by Appeals. This section will not prohibit levy to collect the liability of any person other than the person or persons named in the installment agreement.
(2) When a proposed installment agreement becomes pending. A proposed installment agreement becomes pending when it is accepted for processing. The IRS may not accept a proposed installment agreement for processing following reference of a case involving the liability that is the subject of the proposed installment agreement to the Department of Justice for prosecution or defense. The proposed installment agreement remains pending until the IRS accepts the proposal, the IRS notifies the taxpayer that the proposal has been rejected, or the proposal is withdrawn by the taxpayer. If a proposed installment agreement that has been accepted for processing does not contain sufficient information to permit the IRS to evaluate whether the proposal should be accepted, the IRS will request the taxpayer to provide the needed additional information. If the taxpayer does not submit the additional information that the IRS has requested within a reasonable time period after such a request, the IRS may reject the proposed installment agreement.
(3) Revised proposals of installment agreements submitted following rejection. If, following the rejection of a proposed installment agreement, the taxpayer makes a good faith revision of the proposal and submits the revision within 30 days of the date of rejection, the provisions of this section shall apply to that revised proposal.
(4) Exceptions. Paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall not prohibit levy if the taxpayer files a written notice with the IRS that waives the restriction on levy imposed by this section, the IRS determines that the proposed installment agreement was submitted solely to delay collection, or the IRS determines that collection of the tax to which the installment agreement or proposed installment agreement relates is in jeopardy.
(b) Other actions by the IRS while levy is prohibited—(1) In general. The IRS may take actions other than levy to protect the interests of the Government with regard to the liability identified in an installment agreement or proposed installment agreement. Those actions include, for example—
(i) Crediting an overpayment against the liability pursuant to section 6402;
(ii) Filing or refiling notices of Federal tax lien; and
(iii) Taking action to collect from any person who is not named in the installment agreement or proposed installment agreement but who is liable for the tax to which the installment agreement relates.
(2) Proceedings in court. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (b)(2), the IRS will not refer a case to the Department of Justice for the commencement of a proceeding in court, against a person named in an installment agreement or proposed installment agreement, if levy to collect the liability is prohibited by paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Without regard to whether a person is named in an installment agreement or proposed installment agreement, however, the IRS may authorize the Department of Justice to file a counterclaim or third-party complaint in a refund action or to join that person in any other proceeding in which liability for the tax that is the subject of the installment agreement or proposed installment agreement may be established or disputed, including a suit against the United States under 28 U.S.C. 2410. In addition, the United States may file a claim in any bankruptcy proceeding or insolvency action brought by or against such person. If a person named in an installment agreement is joined in a proceeding, the United States obtains a judgment against that person, and the case is referred back to the IRS for collection, collection will continue to occur pursuant to the terms of the installment agreement.
(c) Statute of limitations—(1) Suspension of the statute of limitations on collection. The statute of limitations under section 6502 for collection of any liability shall be suspended during the period that a proposed installment agreement relating to that liability is pending with the IRS, for 30 days immediately following the rejection of a proposed installment agreement, and for 30 days immediately following the termination of an installment agreement. If, within the 30 days following the rejection or termination of an installment agreement, the taxpayer files an appeal with the IRS Office of Appeals, the statute of limitations for collection shall be suspended while the rejection or termination is being considered by Appeals. The statute of limitations for collection shall continue to run if an exception under paragraph (a)(4) of this section applies and levy is not prohibited with respect to the taxpayer.
(2) Waivers of the statute of limitations on collection. The IRS may continue to request, to the extent permissible under section 6502 and § 301.6159-1, that the taxpayer agree to a reasonable extension of the statute of limitations for collection.
(d) Cross-reference. For provisions relating to the making of levies while an installment agreement is pending or in effect, see § 301.6159-1.
(e) Effective/applicability date. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) are applicable beginning December 18, 2002. Paragraph (d) is applicable beginning November 25, 2009.
Authorizing Statute
-
Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information26 U.S.C. § 6103
-
Restrictions applicable to deficiencies; petition to Tax Court26 U.S.C. § 6213
-
Signing of returns and other documents26 U.S.C. § 6061
-
Assessment, collection, and payment26 U.S.C. § 6232
-
Period of limitations on making adjustments26 U.S.C. § 6235
-
Validity and priority against certain persons26 U.S.C. § 6323
-
Definitions26 U.S.C. § 7701
-
Partner’s return must be consistent with partnership return26 U.S.C. § 6222
-
Alternative to payment of imputed underpayment by partnership26 U.S.C. § 6226
-
Notice of qualification as executor or receiver26 U.S.C. § 6036
-
Partners bound by actions of partnership26 U.S.C. § 6223
-
Abatements26 U.S.C. § 6404
-
Commissioner of Internal Revenue; other officials26 U.S.C. § 7803
-
Extension of time for filing returns26 U.S.C. § 6081
-
Treaty-based return positions26 U.S.C. § 6114
-
Timely mailing treated as timely filing and paying26 U.S.C. § 7502
-
Interest and penalties26 U.S.C. § 6233
-
Certified professional employer organizations26 U.S.C. § 7705
-
Accelerated cost recovery system26 U.S.C. § 168
-
General requirement of return, statement, or list26 U.S.C. § 6011
-
Disclosure of reportable transactions26 U.S.C. § 6111
-
Rules and regulations26 U.S.C. § 7805
-
Persons required to make returns of income26 U.S.C. § 6012
-
Return of S corporation26 U.S.C. § 6037
-
Reimbursement to State and local law enforcement agencies26 U.S.C. § 7624
-
Determination at partnership level26 U.S.C. § 6221
-
Partnership adjustment by Secretary26 U.S.C. § 6225
-
Authority to release levy and return property26 U.S.C. § 6343
-
Disclosure or use of information by preparers of returns26 U.S.C. § 7216
-
Departmental regulations5 U.S.C. § 301
-
Tax imposed26 U.S.C. § 1
-
Notice of proceedings and adjustment26 U.S.C. § 6231
-
Payment of tax by commercially acceptable means26 U.S.C. § 6311
-
Sale of seized property26 U.S.C. § 6335
-
Procedural requirements26 U.S.C. § 6751
-
Low-income housing credit26 U.S.C. § 42
-
Special rules26 U.S.C. § 1474
-
Returns by exempt organizations26 U.S.C. § 6033
-
Definitions and special rules26 U.S.C. § 6241
-
Administrative appeal of liens26 U.S.C. § 6326
-
Expenses of detection of underpayments and fraud, etc.26 U.S.C. § 7623
-
Information concerning resident status26 U.S.C. § 6039E
-
Identifying numbers26 U.S.C. § 6109
-
Administrative adjustment request by partnership26 U.S.C. § 6227
-
Authority to make credits or refunds26 U.S.C. § 6402
-
Judicial review of partnership adjustment26 U.S.C. § 6234
-
Failure to file notice of redetermination of foreign tax26 U.S.C. § 6689
-
Income from discharge of indebtedness26 U.S.C. § 108
-
Actions affecting property on which United States has lien28 U.S.C. § 2410