IRS Bank Levy (Form 668-A): The 21-Day Window and What to Do
If your bank froze your account because of the IRS, you have a short window. The bank must hold the money for 21 days before sending it to the IRS.
Get help with my bank levyAn IRS bank levy, sent to your bank on Form 668-A, freezes the money in your account on the day the bank receives it. The bank holds those funds for 21 days, then sends them to the IRS unless the levy is released first.
A bank levy is a one-time seizure. It takes what's in the account that day, not future deposits. But the IRS can issue another levy later if the balance stays unresolved.
Where this notice falls in the IRS process
- CP504 — Notice of intent to levy
- LT11 / Letter 1058 / CP90 — Final notice, 30-day hearing rights
- Levy issued to your employer or bank — you are here
- Levy released (paid, payment plan, hardship, or other reason)
What the IRS can do now
- Take the money in your account on the day the bank receives the levy, up to the amount you owe.
- Issue new levies on the same or other accounts if the balance isn't resolved.
- Levy wages and other income at the same time.
What the IRS generally can't do yet
- Take deposits made after the bank received the levy, under that same levy.
- Collect the frozen money during the 21-day hold, so there's time to get it released.
Your options
Request a release now
Contact the IRS (or have a representative do it) within the 21 days to arrange a payment plan or hardship status and ask for a levy release.
Payment plan
An installment agreement is often enough to get the levy released before the funds are sent.
Hardship release
If losing the money would prevent you from paying rent, food, or utilities, the IRS can release the levy.
Prove an error
If the levy was issued in error, or the money belongs to someone else, provide documentation right away.
Plan for what comes next
Resolve the underlying balance, or another levy can follow.
What not to do
- Wait out the 21 days. After that, the money is gone.
- Assume opening a new account protects you. The IRS can levy that account too.
- Write checks against frozen funds. They'll bounce and add bank fees.
- Ignore it because the account is now empty. The underlying balance is still there.
Is your bank account frozen? The 21-day clock is running.
Tiffany V., CPA can move quickly to set up a resolution and request a levy release before the money is sent.
Book my CPA reviewFrequently asked questions
How long does the bank hold the money?
21 days. Then the bank must send the frozen funds to the IRS unless the levy has been released.
Does a bank levy take future deposits?
No. A bank levy takes what's in the account when the bank receives it. The IRS would need to issue a new levy to take later deposits.
Can I get a bank levy released?
Often, yes, if you act within the 21 days. A payment plan, hardship status, or proof of an error are the usual routes.
Didn't the IRS have to warn me first?
Generally, yes. Before a bank levy, the IRS sends a final notice of intent to levy (LT11, Letter 1058, or CP90) with 30 days to request a hearing. Many people never saw it because of an old address.
Written by Tiffany V., CPA, founder of Cents Savvy LLC. Last reviewed October 2026. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation. Cents Savvy LLC is a private CPA firm and is not affiliated with the IRS. Always follow the dates printed on your own notice.