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Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§6320 Notice and Opportunity for Hearing Upon Filing of Notice of Lien

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— Procedure and Administration › Chapter 64— COLLECTION › Subchapter C— Lien for Taxes › Part I— DUE PROCESS FOR LIENS › § 6320

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the IRS files a notice of federal tax lien against your property, it must tell you in writing — delivered in person, left at your home or usual place of business, or sent by certified or registered mail to your last known address. The notice must explain, in simple terms, the amount of unpaid tax, your right to request a hearing during the 30-day period that starts after the 5-day notice period, the appeals available to you, how liens are released, and the rules on passport denial for seriously delinquent tax debts. If you request a hearing in writing and state your grounds, the IRS Independent Office of Appeals holds it, using an officer or employee with no prior involvement in your case unless you waive that. You get only one hearing per tax period, and where practical it is held together with a levy hearing.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6320

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary shall notify in writing the person described in section 6321 of the filing of a notice of lien under section 6323.
(2)The notice required under paragraph (1) shall be—
(A)given in person;
(B)left at the dwelling or usual place of business of such person; or
(C)sent by certified or registered mail to such person’s last known address,
(3)The notice required under paragraph (1) shall include in simple and nontechnical terms—
(A)the amount of unpaid tax;
(B)the right of the person to request a hearing during the 30-day period beginning on the day after the 5-day period described in paragraph (2);
(C)the administrative appeals available to the taxpayer with respect to such lien and the procedures relating to such appeals;
(D)the provisions of this title and procedures relating to the release of liens on property; and
(E)the provisions of section 7345 relating to the certification of seriously delinquent tax debts and the denial, revocation, or limitation of passports of individuals with such debts pursuant to section 32101 of the FAST Act.
(b)(1)If the person requests a hearing in writing under subsection (a)(3)(B) and states the grounds for the requested hearing, such hearing shall be held by the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals.
(2)A person shall be entitled to only one hearing under this section with respect to the taxable period to which the unpaid tax specified in subsection (a)(3)(A) relates.
(3)The hearing under this subsection shall be conducted by an officer or employee who has had no prior involvement with respect to the unpaid tax specified in subsection (a)(3)(A) before the first hearing under this section or section 6330. A taxpayer may waive the requirement of this paragraph.
(4)To the extent practicable, a hearing under this section shall be held in conjunction with a hearing under section 6330.
(c)For purposes of this section, subsections (c), (d) (other than paragraph (3)(B) thereof), (e), and (g) of section 6330 shall apply.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 32101 of the FAST Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(E), is section 32101 of Pub. L. 114–94, which enacted section 7345 of this title and section 2714a of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and amended this section and section 6103, 6331, and 7508 of this title.

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–25 substituted “Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals” for “Internal Revenue Service Office of Appeals”. 2015—Subsec. (a)(3)(E). Pub. L. 114–94 added subpar. (E). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–113 substituted “(3)(B)” for “(2)(B)”. 2006—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–432, § 407(c)(1), substituted “in writing under subsection (a)(3)(B) and states the grounds for the requested hearing” for “under subsection (a)(3)(B)”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–432, § 407(c)(2), substituted “(e), and (g)” for “and (e)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2006 Amendment Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title IV, § 407(f), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2962, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 6330, 6702, and 7122 of this title] shall apply to submissions made and issues raised after the date on which the Secretary first prescribes a list under section 6702(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by subsection (a) [list prescribed Mar. 16, 2007, see I.R.S. Notice 2007–30, 2007–14, I.R.B. 883].”

Effective Date

Pub. L. 105–206, title III, § 3401(d), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 750, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section and section 6330 of this title and amending section 7443A of this title] shall apply to collection actions initiated after the date which is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [July 22, 1998].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6320

Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73