Tax Levy Attorney in Seattle, Washington

Tax Levy attorney

Stop IRS and WA State Garnishes and Levies

When the IRS or Washington State Department of Revenue moves from sending notices to seizing your property, your situation has shifted from a tax issue to a financial emergency. You need a tax levy attorney who can step in immediately to stop the damage. 

Seattle Legal Services specializes in high-stakes tax resolution. We provide IRS levy help in Seattle, WA, and can act as the legal barrier between you and state or federal government collectors. Don’t wait – contact us for help today or learn more about the tax problems we resolve.

The IRS has unparalleled power when it comes to collection enforcement. They can use a levy to seize wages, bank accounts, and other assets if you owe taxes. 

Once the IRS starts the process, you have limited time to stop it. That’s why it’s critical not to ignore IRS notices. I have years of experience negotiating levy releases for my clients. In many cases, I can stop wage garnishments, release bank levies, and most importantly, prevent these actions from happening in the first place.

The first step in nearly every case? Securing a collection hold with the IRS so my clients can get immediate relief. I’m John Georvasilis, an attorney and the founder of Seattle Legal Services. I don’t just talk about results – I get results for my clients.

Bank Levy Release Success Story

When a client contacted us about a bank levy, we jumped into action. The IRS issued a levy against the client’s bank account for a tax debt that was well over $80,000. Their funds were instantly frozen – but we leveraged our experience and secured a full release. 

The levy hit the client’s account on March 29, 2022, and once they contacted us, we secured a full bank levy release on April 7, 2022. That was well before the 21-day cut-off for disputes, giving the taxpayer the peace of mind they needed as quickly as possible and, even more importantly, providing them with access to their funds. 

You don’t have to take our word for it – check out the levy notice and the redacted levy release forms. 

Facing a Tax Levy? You’ve Come to the Right Place

The government’s power to seize property is vast, but not absolute. You’re in the right place if you’re facing:

  • A frozen bank account. You tried using your debit card, but your balance was unavailable because of an IRS or state levy.
  • Wage garnishment. The IRS has notified your employer, and now, they must send a portion of your take-home pay directly to the government.
  • A final notice of intent to levy. You received a final levy notice (probably Letter 1058 or LT11) in the mail, giving you 30 days to resolve your tax issue before the IRS takes the next enforcement step.
  • Seizure of your assets or property. The IRS has threatened to seize your vehicle, equipment, or potentially your primary residence to satisfy a debt.

Take a moment to breathe because we can help fix levy issues. No matter how aggressive the notices appear, legal solutions exist to stop the seizure and protect your livelihood.

What a Tax Levy Means (and Why Timing Is Everything)

A levy is the actual legal seizure of your property by the IRS to satisfy a tax debt. Unlike a lien, which merely claims an interest in your property, a levy takes it. The IRS uses several different levies.

  • A bank levy requires your financial institution to freeze your funds for 21 days before sending them to the IRS.
  • Wage garnishments remain in effect until you pay or settle your debt.
  • An asset seizure allows the IRS to legally take physical custody of your property or rights to your property.
  • The IRS can even levy your Social Security benefits. Like wage garnishment, this automated deduction continues until the debt is paid off or the levy is released. 

In the tax enforcement world, timing is critical. Once you receive a Final Notice, you have a narrow window to appeal or request a hearing (30 days from when the notice was sent) before the government takes your money.

Levy Situations We Help With in Seattle, WA

Our tax attorneys provide aggressive, comprehensive representation for all forms of government enforcement.

  • Notice of Intent to Levy: We will file a request for a collection due process (CDP) hearing, which stops enforcement before it starts. 
  • Bank levies: We work to secure a release before the 21-day holding period expires
  • Wage garnishments: We negotiate with the IRS to stop the garnishment and replace it with a manageable solution, like a payment plan.
  • Social Security levies: We fight to protect this vital income.
  • Asset seizure: We protect your physical property, vehicles, and real estate from government sale.
  • Washington State tax levies: If the WA Department of Revenue is seizing your business assets or funds, we can provide the local expertise to resolve state-level debt.
  •  Ongoing or repeat levy issues: If the IRS releases one levy and hits you with another one a few months later, it’s a sign that your case wasn’t properly closed in the agency’s system.

If you’re facing a levy, let us step in to find a permanent resolution that restores your full compliance and ends the cycle of repeat enforcement for good.

How Levy Issues Escalate

Tax levies are the end of an escalating collection process that starts with notices and gets more aggressive every day. If you don’t respond to initial demands for payment, the IRS will send a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing. 

Failing to address the matter within 30 days of that final notice will trigger the IRS to begin seizing assets without further warning. In limited situations, the agency doesn’t even need to send advance warning.

The good news? You can get help at any stage. If you’re facing a pending levy, we may be able to leverage the Collection Appeals Program (CAP). Even if the IRS has already taken money from your bank account or started a wage garnishment, it may be possible to secure a release if we can demonstrate that the levy creates an immediate economic hardship. 

Risks of Ignoring a Levy

Ignoring the problem is the most expensive choice you can make. The risks you invite include:

  • Ongoing garnishments of your wages or frozen or seized funds from your bank accounts. Until the IRS says you have settled your debt, wage garnishments will continue.
  • Business disruption. Should a bank levy hit your business account, you may not be able to make payroll or pay vendors, which could seriously (and permanently) damage your business.
  • Asset loss. And once the government seizes and sells an asset, getting it back or recovering its full value is nearly impossible.
  • Growing penalties: Penalties apply monthly, adding to the total tax bill you owe.

How a Seattle Tax Levy Attorney Resolves Levy Cases

At Seattle Legal Services, we follow a finely honed protocol and strategy, informed by years of experience, to resolve levy issues.

  • Case review. First, we pull your IRS transcripts and state records to confirm your place in the enforcement cycle. We identify the specific revenue officer or unit handling your file. Then, we contact the IRS or WA State to request a stay of enforcement. If a levy has already begun, our priority is to pause it.
  • Stopping the levy. Next, we prepare the required documentation to show the IRS why it should release your levy. This step often involves showing financial hardship or proposing an alternative solution that satisfies the agency’s requirements.
  • Custom strategy: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to tax debt. Once we address the immediate crisis, we consider each factor of your financial life — monthly cost of living, future earning potential, and asset equity. 
  • Debt resolution. To protect you from additional levies, we resolve the underlying tax debt with a relief option like a settlement, payment plan, or temporary hardship status.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that by working with us, you won’t have to deal with the IRS anymore. We handle all the phone calls, letters, and meetings. As your advocate, we protect your rights and ensure that the government doesn’t overstep its legal bounds.

Permanent Resolution Options

Stopping the levy is only the first step in getting you back into compliance. To keep a levy off for good, we explore various options to see which is most appropriate for your situation.

Why Choose This Seattle Tax Attorney

Any time you’re dealing with the threat of a levy, you need a tax attorney, but why should you choose our firm? 

Our team specializes in negotiating with the IRS and Washington DOR to obtain the most favorable outcomes for anyone in tax trouble. We offer:

    • Attorney-led representation. 
    • Strategic, personalized approach. 
    • Clear communication. 
    • Track record of customer satisfaction.

FAQ

How do I stop an IRS levy quickly?

The fastest way to stop an IRS levy is to have an attorney contact the IRS and demonstrate your financial hardship or to enter into a formal resolution plan that requires the levy to be released. 

Can a bank levy be reversed?

Yes. You have a 21-day window from the time the bank receives the levy until it sends your money to the IRS. If we act within that window, we may be able to secure a release and keep the money in your account.

Will a tax attorney in Seattle stop the levy immediately?

While no one can guarantee an instant stop, an attorney can often get a stay of enforcement within 24-48 hours by contacting the appropriate IRS department and providing proof of representation and financial status.

Can the IRS take my Social Security?

Yes. The Federal Payment Levy Program legally permits the IRS to take 15% of your Social Security payments automatically, but a manual levy can take more. We can seek to stop this withdrawal by proving that it creates a financial hardship.

Does Washington State issue tax levies?

Yes, the DOR can levy your bank account, garnish your wages, or seize and sell your physical assets. You need an attorney to protect your business.

What if I can’t pay my tax debt?

If you truly cannot pay, and doing so would cause significant financial hardship, we can argue for Currently Not Collectible status or request an Offer in Compromise. The IRS cannot levy you if it leaves you unable to pay for basic living expenses like rent and food.

Take Action Before the IRS Does

A tax levy creates a fast-moving crisis, but it doesn’t have to become a permanent disaster. Seattle Legal Services provides the experienced, local advocacy you need. Our tax levy attorneys will work with you to help you reclaim your financial stability.

Don’t wait for the government to drain your bank account or cut your next paycheck in half. Contact us today for a confidential consultation, and let’s stop the levy together.

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