Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§6232 Assessment, collection, and payment

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 63— - ASSESSMENT › Subchapter Subchapter C— - Treatment of Partnerships › Part PART III— - PROCEDURE › § 6232

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The rule says how the IRS can charge and collect an amount the IRS says a partnership owes because of an audit adjustment. The amount is treated like a tax for the year being adjusted, but some usual collection rules do not apply. If the partnership files an administrative adjustment request that meets certain rules, the partnership must pay and the IRS may assess the amount when that request is filed. The IRS generally cannot assess or start collection until 90 days after it mails a final adjustment notice. If the partnership files a timely court petition, the IRS must wait until the court’s decision is final. The partnership can give a signed written waiver to let the IRS act sooner. Simple math or clerical errors get faster correction rules. If the partnership does not pay within 10 days after a notice and demand, a higher interest rate applies (use 5 percentage points instead of 3 percentage points), and the IRS may assess each partner for their share of the amount. The IRS will decide each partner’s percentage based on distributive shares so they add to 100%. If a partner pays, the partnership’s liability is reduced. S corporations and their shareholders are treated like partnerships and partners. The IRS generally cannot assess a partner more than 2 years after the notice and demand.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6232

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any imputed underpayment shall be assessed and collected in the same manner as if it were a tax imposed for the adjustment year by subtitle A, except that—
(1)subchapter B of chapter 63 shall not apply, and
(2)in the case of an administrative adjustment request to which section 6227(b)(1) applies, the underpayment shall be paid and may be assessed when the request is filed.
(b)Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle (other than subchapter B of this chapter), no assessment of an imputed underpayment may be made (and no levy or proceeding in any court for the collection of any amount resulting from such adjustment may be made, begun or prosecuted) before—
(1)the close of the 90th day after the day on which a notice of a final partnership adjustment was mailed, and
(2)if a petition is filed under section 6234 with respect to such notice, the decision of the court has become final.
(c)Notwithstanding section 7421(a), any action which violates subsection (b) may be enjoined in the proper court, including the Tax Court. The Tax Court shall have no jurisdiction to enjoin any action under this subsection unless a timely petition has been filed under section 6234 and then only in respect of the adjustments that are the subject of such petition.
(d)(1)(A)If the partnership is notified that, on account of a mathematical or clerical error appearing on the partnership return, an adjustment to an item is required, rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 6213(b) shall apply to such adjustment.
(B)If a partnership is a partner in another partnership, any adjustment on account of such partnership’s failure to comply with the requirements of section 6222(a) with respect to its interest in such other partnership shall be treated as an adjustment referred to in subparagraph (A), except that paragraph (2) of section 6213(b) shall not apply to such adjustment.
(2)The partnership may at any time (whether or not any notice of partnership adjustment has been issued), by a signed notice in writing filed with the Secretary, waive the restrictions provided in subsection (b) on the making of any partnership adjustment.
(e)If no proceeding under section 6234 is begun with respect to any notice of a final partnership adjustment during the 90-day period described in subsection (b), the amount for which the partnership is liable under section 6225 shall not exceed the amount determined in accordance with such notice.
(f)(1)If any amount of any imputed underpayment to which section 6225 applies or any specified similar amount (or any interest or penalties with respect to any such amount) has not been paid by the date which is 10 days after the date on which the Secretary provides notice and demand for such payment—
(A)section 6621(a)(2)(B) shall be applied by substituting “5 percentage points” for “3 percentage points” with respect to such amount, and
(B)the Secretary may assess upon each partner of the partnership (determined as of the close of the adjustment year or, if the partnership has ceased to exist as of such time, the former partners of the partnership as determined for purposes of section 6241(7)) a tax equal to such partner’s proportionate share of such amount (including any such interest or penalties, determined after application of subparagraph (A)).
(2)For purposes of this subsection, the term “specified similar amount” means—
(A)the amount described in subclause (II) of section 6226(b)(4)(A)(ii) (including any failure to satisfy the requirement of subclause (I) of such section which is treated as a failure to pay such amount under section 6651(i)), and
(B)any amount assessed under paragraph (1)(B) upon a partner which is a partnership.
(3)For purposes of paragraph (1), a partner’s proportionate share is such percentage as the Secretary may determine on the basis of such partner’s distributive share. The Secretary shall make determinations under the preceding sentence such that the aggregate proportionate shares so determined total 100 percent.
(4)The liability of the partnership for any amount with respect to which a partner is made liable under paragraph (1) shall be reduced upon payment by the partner of such amount. Paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply with respect to any amount after the date on which such amount is paid by the partnership.
(5)For purposes of this subsection, an S corporation and its shareholders shall be treated in the same manner as a partnership and its partners.
(6)(A)Subchapter B shall not apply to any assessment or collection under this paragraph.
(B)Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, no assessment may be made (or proceeding in court begun without assessment) with respect to any partner with respect to an amount under paragraph (1) after the date which is 2 years after the date on which the Secretary provides the notice and demand referred to in paragraph (1) with respect to such amount.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6232, added Pub. L. 97–248, title IV, § 402(a), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 666, related to extension of subchapter provisions, respecting tax treatment of partnership items, to windfall profit tax, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–418, title I, § 1941(b)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1323.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–141, § 206(g)(1), substituted “except that—” for “except that in the case of an administrative adjustment request to which section 6227(b)(1) applies, the underpayment shall be paid when the request is filed.” and added pars. (1) and (2). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–141, § 206(p)(4), substituted “this subtitle (other than subchapter B of this chapter)” for “this chapter” in introductory provisions. Pub. L. 115–141, § 206(g)(2), substituted “assessment of an imputed underpayment” for “assessment of a deficiency” in introductory provisions and inserted concluding provisions. Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 115–141, § 206(p)(5), substituted “an item” for “a item”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–141, § 206(p)(6), struck out “thereof” after “subsection (b)”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–141, § 205(a), added subsec. (f).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–141 effective as if included in section 1101 of Pub. L. 114–74, see section 207 of Pub. L. 115–141, set out as a note under section 6031 of this title.

Effective Date

Section applicable to returns filed for partnership taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, with certain exceptions, see section 1101(g) of Pub. L. 114–74, set out as a note under section 6221 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6232

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73