IRS Levy Attorney in Charlotte

Over a Decade of Debt Relief Experience, Working Directly with You

An IRS levy is one of the most disruptive enforcement actions the federal government can take. It can freeze your bank account, garnish your paycheck, or seize other assets with little warning. When that happens, you need an attorney who can move quickly and work directly with you, not a case manager at a national firm who puts you in a queue.

I’m Law Office of Kimberly A. Sheek, and I’ve practiced bankruptcy and debt relief law in Charlotte since 2015, with over a decade of legal experience. As a solo attorney, I work directly with every client from the first phone call through resolution. There are no rotating associates, no hand-offs to non-attorney staff. I was named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law in 2013 and 2016, an honor limited to 2.5 percent of North Carolina attorneys. I also bring a practical understanding of bankruptcy-side remedies that tax-only firms may not raise. I offer free initial consultations to Charlotte residents facing levy situations.

If the IRS has sent a Final Notice of Intent to Levy or frozen your account, time matters. Call me at (704) 842-9776 or reach out online to talk through your options before the window closes.

How the IRS Levy Process Works

The IRS doesn’t levy without warning. Federal law requires a sequence of notices before enforcement can begin, and understanding that sequence is the first step toward using it to your advantage.

The process typically starts with multiple demand notices. If those go unanswered, the IRS issues a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (often CP90 or a similar notice). From the date of that Final Notice, you have 30 days to request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing by filing Form 12153. Filing within that 30-day window suspends levy action while the hearing is pending. If no request is made, the IRS can move to enforcement without further notice.

Once a bank levy is served, the IRS delivers Form 668-A directly to your bank. The bank must freeze the account funds immediately and hold them for 21 calendar days before remitting anything to the IRS. That 21-day holding period is the primary window for levy release. Two important details: the clock starts the day the bank receives Form 668-A, not the day you discover the freeze, and a bank levy is a one-time seizure of funds present at that moment. Deposits made after the levy date aren’t captured by the same action.

A wage levy operates differently. Rather than a one-time seizure, it attaches continuously to future paychecks until released. IRS levy proceedings are governed entirely by federal law under IRC 6331 and related statutes. The process is the same for Charlotte residents as for any other taxpayer in the country.

Strategies for Protecting Your Assets from an IRS Levy

Several legal paths can stop or release an IRS levy, depending on your circumstances. I evaluate all available options and pursue the ones that fit your situation.

Installment Agreements
Negotiating a payment plan with the IRS can halt or release a levy once an agreement is approved. I handle the negotiation and documentation on your behalf, structuring terms that reflect your actual ability to pay.

Offer in Compromise
For clients who qualify, an Offer in Compromise proposes settling the tax debt for less than the full amount owed. Eligibility depends on your income, expenses, asset equity, and overall ability to pay. I prepare and submit the offer and handle IRS communications throughout the review process.

Innocent Spouse Relief
Where a tax liability stems specifically from a spouse’s actions on a jointly filed return, you may be eligible to pursue Innocent Spouse Relief under IRS Form 8857. This is a situation-specific remedy, not a broadly available option, but it can be the right path when the underlying facts support it.

Currently Not Collectible Status
When meeting basic living expenses leaves nothing to apply toward a tax debt, the IRS can designate an account as currently not collectible (CNC). Levy action is suspended while CNC status is in place, though the debt remains and interest continues to accrue.

Economic Hardship Release
Under IRC 6343(a)(1)(D), the IRS must release a levy when enforcement would cause economic hardship, specifically when the levy prevents you from meeting reasonable and necessary living expenses. I prepare the hardship documentation and present it to the IRS directly.

Procedural Challenges
A levy can also be challenged if the IRS failed to follow required notice procedures. I review the full notice history in each case before evaluating substantive resolution options.

The 21-Day Bank Levy Window: Why Acting Fast Matters

If your bank account has been frozen by an IRS bank levy, the 21-day holding period is the most time-sensitive element of your situation. Once day 21 passes and the bank remits frozen funds to the IRS, recovery becomes significantly harder. A separate wrongful levy or return of funds claim process is available after that point, but it’s slower and less certain than resolving the levy before remittance.

Acting within that window preserves the full range of resolution options: installment agreements, hardship releases, CDP appeals, and procedural challenges. Waiting narrows them considerably.

Because I work directly with clients and don’t route urgent matters through case managers, I can begin reviewing your notices and contacting the IRS quickly when an active bank levy is in place. Charlotte-area residents facing a frozen account can reach me directly at (704) 842-9776. Early contact gives you the most to work with.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an IRS Levy?

An IRS levy is a legal seizure of your property to satisfy an unpaid tax debt. The IRS can levy bank accounts, wages, Social Security benefits, vehicles, and other assets, and it typically resorts to levy only after multiple prior notices have gone unanswered. Once in place, a levy can significantly disrupt your financial stability. Consulting an IRS levy attorney in Charlotte as early as possible keeps the most options available.

How Does the IRS Levy Process Start?

The IRS sends a Final Notice of Intent to Levy after prior demand notices have gone unanswered. You have 30 days from that notice to request a Collection Due Process hearing by filing Form 12153. If no response is made within that window, the IRS can proceed with enforcement without further notice.

Can an IRS Levy Be Stopped?

Yes. Depending on your circumstances, options include entering into an installment agreement, submitting an Offer in Compromise, requesting currently not collectible status, documenting economic hardship, filing a CDP appeal, or challenging the levy on procedural grounds. Which paths are available depends on the facts of your case, and consulting an attorney quickly expands the options still on the table.

How Can a Lawyer Help with an IRS Levy?

An IRS levy lawyer can review your IRS notices for procedural errors, represent you in Collection Due Process hearings, negotiate installment agreements or offer in compromise proposals, prepare hardship documentation, and communicate directly with the IRS so you don’t face collection agents alone. I handle each of these steps personally, not through staff.

Why Work with a Local Charlotte IRS Levy Attorney?

A locally based attorney can meet with you in person, respond without call-center delays, and act quickly within time-sensitive windows like the 21-day bank levy holding period. When a frozen account requires fast action, direct accessibility matters. I’m based in Charlotte and available to clients throughout the Mecklenburg County area without a chain of intermediaries between you and your attorney.

Schedule a Free Consultation About Your IRS Levy

An IRS levy doesn’t have to be the end of the conversation. There are real resolution paths available, and which ones apply depends on the specifics of your situation. I offer free initial consultations so you can understand your options before committing to anything. You’ll speak with me directly, not a case manager or intake coordinator.

Call (704) 842-9776 or contact Law Office of Kimberly A. Sheek online to schedule your free consultation. The sooner we connect, the more options may remain available to you.