You don’t have to be worried that just any creditor can levy your bank account at will. A creditor can’t levy your bank account without first winning a lawsuit judgment against you and then obtaining a court order to levy your bank account. Or, in the case of a tax levy, the IRS will have sent a bill for payment, allowed you to neglect or refuse to pay, then sent a final notice of intent to levy. For a certain amount of time, your bank account is frozen, and you have the opportunity to get the levy lifted. However, if the levy isn’t lifted, the creditor can take the money from your bank account until the debt has been satisfied.
Income That Can’t Be Levied
According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), certain deposits, like Social Security income, Supplemental Security Income, and Veteran’s Benefits, generally can’t be levied. However, if this money is mixed in your account with other money, you’ll have to prove which money is exempt from the levy and which is not. The bank is required to review your account for protected funds before allowing creditors to take money from your account. A first-in, first-out type of system is sometimes used to decide which money is not subject to levy. For example, if your Social Security income was deposited first and you later spent money from your checking account, that first money spent will be assumed to come from the Social Security income. It means you may have already spent the income that’s exempt from levy and everything else is subject to the levy. Exception: The IRS can levy Social Security benefits, and the Treasury can levy for certain child support and alimony payments.
How to Avoid a Bank Levy
By the time you receive notice that a creditor is preparing to levy your bank account, you’ll have likely received other notices about the debt. If you want to avoid having your bank account levied, you need to act fast.
Pay Your Bill or Set Up a Payment Arrangement
If you have the money to pay your debt in full, doing so will keep help you avoid a levy. Otherwise, you may be able to enter a payment agreement to pay back your debt in installments. Agreeing to monthly ACH debits from your bank account may give the creditor more assurance that you’re committed to repaying your debt.
Try to Settle the Debt for Less Than the Full Amount Owed
The creditor may be willing to accept less than the full balance due, but you have to talk to them to make this type of arrangement. Note that if the creditor agrees to settle your debt, the remaining portion that’s canceled is subject to taxation on your next year’s tax return.
Getting It Lifted
Once a levy is in place, the creditor may keep withdrawing funds from your bank account until the entire debt is repaid. You may be able to get the levy lifted by taking care of the obligation, making a payment arrangement, or settling the debt. Or, if you were never properly served with notice of the original lawsuit, you may be able to get the judgment vacated. An attorney can work with you to file the necessary court documents to have the judgment overturned. Certain debts are subject to a statute of limitations and are not legally enforceable after a certain period of time. This argument can also help you get a levy reversed but also requires an attorney’s help. Finally, filing bankruptcy may also be an option for getting a levy released. Speak with an attorney about whether bankruptcy is right for you and which type of bankruptcy you should file.
