How to Get an IRS Levy Released Fast (Without Paying in Full)
How to Get an IRS Levy Released Fast (Without Paying in Full)
If the IRS is garnishing your paycheck or froze your bank account, you may be able to get the levy released quickly—without paying the full tax debt.
This blog explains how to request a fast IRS levy release using hardship claims, appeals, or resolution plans.
What Is an IRS Levy Release?
A levy release is when the IRS lifts a wage garnishment, bank account freeze, or seizure order before the debt is fully paid.
Related: IRS Seized My Bank Account – Can I Get the Money Back?
Common Grounds for IRS Levy Release
- Financial hardship (you can’t afford basic living expenses)
- You enter an Installment Agreement
- You’re accepted into Currently Not Collectible status
- You submit an Offer in Compromise
- The levy was issued
in error
How to Request a Levy Release
- Call the IRS collections line or your assigned Revenue Officer
- Submit Form 433-A or 433-F
- Request hardship-based release under
IRC §6343
- If urgent, file Form 911 to involve the Taxpayer Advocate
How Fast Can a Levy Be Removed?
- Bank levy: Must act within 21 days
- Wage garnishment: Can stop on the next pay cycle
- Other levies: Depends on IRS backlog, case type, and negotiation
We Help California Taxpayers Remove Levies Without Paying in Full
At Boulanger CPA and Consulting PC, we:
- File emergency levy release requests
- Stop garnishments immediately
- Settle your debt through alternatives
- Protect your rights during IRS negotiations
📞 Call (657) 218-5700 or visit www.orangecounty.cpa
FAQs – Blog 88: How to Get an IRS Levy Released Fast (Without Paying in Full)
Do I have to pay my entire IRS balance to get a levy released?
No. You can often get a levy released by showing hardship, entering a resolution, or demonstrating the levy was premature or incorrect.
How fast can an IRS levy be removed?
A wage garnishment can stop before your next paycheck. A bank account levy must be acted on within 21 days or the money is sent to the IRS.
What is the most common way to get a levy released?
Entering into an Installment Agreement or Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status are two of the most reliable paths.
What if the levy is causing me to miss rent or food?
The IRS will consider that a financial hardship. You can request a manual release under IRC §6343 and/or involve the Taxpayer Advocate.
Can the IRS refuse to release a levy even if I request it?
Yes—if you’re noncompliant or the debt is collectible under their standards. That’s why strong financial documentation is critical.
📣 About the Author
Marc Boulanger, CPA is the founder of Boulanger CPA and Consulting PC, a boutique tax resolution firm based in Orange County, California and trusted by high-income individuals and business owners across Southern California.
He is the author of Defend What’s Yours: A California Taxpayer’s Guide to Beating the IRS and FTB at Their Own Game, available now on Amazon. The book offers a step-by-step plan for resolving IRS and FTB tax debt without losing your business, your home, or your peace of mind.
With over a decade of experience resolving high-stakes IRS and State tax matters, Marc brings strategic insight to complex cases involving wage garnishments, bank levies, unfiled returns, and six-figure tax debts. He is known for helping clients reduce or eliminate tax liabilities through expertly negotiated settlements and compliance plans.
Marc is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in California and Oklahoma and holds the designation of Certified Tax Representation Consultant. He is a member of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) — the national organization founded by the educators and practitioners who have trained thousands of CPAs, EAs, and tax attorneys in IRS representation strategy.
Every case is handled with discretion, proven methodology, and direct CPA-led representation — not call center scripts.
📍 Learn more at www.orangecounty.cpa or call (657) 218-5700.
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