It is Well-Established that the IRS has 10 Years from its Date of Assessment to Collect Delinquent Taxes – Or Does the IRS Authority to Collect Social Security Benefits Go Beyond 10 Years?
Collection Statute Expiration Date
Internal Revenue Code section 6502 provides that the length of the period for collection after assessment of a tax liability is 10 years. The collection statute expiration ends the government’s right to pursue collection of a liability unless it seeks a judgement against the taxpayer which would extend the collection period for an additional 20 years. The date upon which the IRS can no longer collect the tax is referred to as the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED).
Dean v US (USCA11 Case: 20-14421)
Dean v US involved a motion to dismiss a taxpayer’s suit alleging that the IRS recklessly disregarded the law by continuing to levy on a taxpayer’s Social Security payments beyond the ten year SOL on collections. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the district court’s finding that the IRS’s actions were proper.
What Have We Learned from the Dean Case?
The case illustrates how the ten-year collection period does not prevent collection beyond the ten-year period when there is a timely levy relating to a fixed and determinable income stream.
Most taxpayers and tax professionals understand that the IRS will usually levy an automatic 15% on certain federal benefits, including social security (IRC Sec. 6331(h)). In the Dean case, the IRS levy was made under IRC Sec. 6334(a)(9) whereby the SSA began paying over all of the benefits slated for Dean to the IRS (subject to certain taxpayer exemptions).
Why All the Confusion?
With the CSED expiring, the IRS filed a certificate of release of federal tax lien stating that Dean had “satisfied the taxes,” that the lien was “released,” and authorized the proper IRS officer to “note the books to show the release of this lien.” IRS also abated the assessments. It sure seems as if the 10-year CSED expired and the IRS collections have come to a halt. However, the IRS continued to levy Dean’s social security benefits which resulted in Dean filing a complaint in the district court alleging that the levy was an unauthorized IRS collection action.
Fixed and Determinable Levy Payment
The IRS regulations under Section 6331 describe the relationship between a levy and fixed and determinable payments: “[A] levy extends only to property possessed and obligations which exist at the time of the levy.” 26 C.F.R. § 301.6331–1(a). “Obligations exist when the liability of the obligor is fixed and determinable although the right to receive payment thereof may be deferred until a later date.” The courts have ruled that:
An obligation is fixed and determinable “[a]s long as the events which gave rise to the obligation have occurred and the amount of the obligation is capable of being determined in the future …. It is not necessary that the amount of the obligation be beyond dispute.” United States v. Antonio. 71A AFTR 2d 93-4578], *6 n. 2 (D. Haw. Sept. 24, 1991). Numerous cases establish that Social Security benefits are a fixed and determinable obligation of the SSA and are subject to one-time levies.
As the lower court opinion discusses, the 2013 levy created a custodial relationship between IRS and the SSA and as such the benefits came into constructive possession of the IRS. The regulations under Section 6343 also provide that “a levy on a fixed and determinable right to payment which right includes payments to be made after the period of limitations expires does not become unenforceable upon the expiration of the period of limitations and will not be released under this condition unless the liability is satisfied .” 26 C.F.R. § 301.6343-1(b)(1)(ii).
The Eleventh Circuit also helpfully explains the relationship between the levy and the benefits, directly refuting the claim that the collection occurred after the expiration of the SOL:
Instead, the IRS seized his entire Social Security benefit—that is, his “fixed and determinable right to payment” of his Social Security benefit in monthly installments—immediately upon issuing the notice of levy in June 2013. 26 C.F.R. § 301.6343-1(b)(1)(ii); see Phelps, 421 U.S. at 337. Having seized his entire benefit before the expiration of the collection limitations period, the IRS was not required to relinquish it after the period expired. See 26 C.F.R. § 301.6343-1(b)(1)(ii).
The lower court opinion also nicely discusses the lack of legal significance of the IRS’s abatement of the assessment and issuance of the release of federal tax lien. Both events did not change that Dean owed an underlying tax. As to the abatement, taxpayers are liable for the tax regardless of whether there has been an assessment. While the release of the federal tax lien affects the IRS’s security interest, it did not release the levy and had no bearing on the underlying tax debt.
Disclosure
We wish to thank Leslie Book, a professor at Villanova School of Law, for his posting to the Procedurally Taxing Blog which alerted us to the Dean case.
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About F. Bryan Haarlander, EA, CTRS:
Bryan Haarlander is an IRS licensed Enrolled Agent and who owns and operates a specialized tax services firm serving clients in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, which includes the cities of Chester Springs, Coatesville, Collegeville, Devon, Downingtown, Exton, Frazer, King of Prussia, Paoli, Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Radnor, Reading, Wayne, West Chester in Berks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, as well as clients in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and throughout the continental USA.
A Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, Bryan is well-known for his IRS tax resolution expertise and his book How to Resolve Your IRS Tax Debt Problems.
