Title 26Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73not60

§6863 Stay of Collection of Jeopardy Assessments

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— Procedure and Administration › Chapter 70— JEOPARDY, RECEIVERSHIPS, ETC. › Subchapter A— Jeopardy › Part II— JEOPARDY ASSESSMENTS › § 6863

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the IRS makes a jeopardy tax assessment under sections 6851, 6852, 6861, or 6862, a taxpayer can stop collection by filing a bond for the amount they want to delay. The bond must be filed within the time the IRS sets. The bond promises to pay that amount plus interest when it would normally be due. While the bond is in place, the IRS must hold off collecting the covered amount. The taxpayer can give up the stay for all or part of the bond. If part of the tax is later paid or is officially reduced (abated), the taxpayer can ask to lower the bond by the same share. If the case may go to Tax Court, a bond written before the taxpayer files a Tax Court petition must say that if no petition is filed in time, the IRS can demand payment with interest from the date of the jeopardy notice. The bond only covers amounts that are not finally canceled by the Tax Court; if the court reduces the tax, the bond can be reduced. Property seized for these taxes generally cannot be sold while the filing and review periods run, except if the taxpayer agrees, the IRS shows holding costs would wipe out proceeds, or the property is of a special type. The Tax Court can review the IRS decision to sell. For assessments under section 6862, the same limits on selling seized property apply during administrative or court review periods.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6863

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)When an assessment has been made under section 6851, 6852, 6861 or 6862, the collection of the whole or any amount of such assessment may be stayed by filing with the Secretary, within such time as may be fixed by regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a bond in an amount equal to the amount as to which the stay is desired, conditioned upon the payment of the amount (together with interest thereon) the collection of which is stayed, at the time at which, but for the making of such assessment, such amount would be due. Upon the filing of the bond the collection of so much of the amount assessed as is covered by the bond shall be stayed. The taxpayer shall have the right to waive such stay at any time in respect of the whole or any part of the amount covered by the bond, and if as a result of such waiver any part of the amount covered by the bond is paid, then the bond shall, at the request of the taxpayer, be proportionately reduced. If any portion of such assessment is abated, the bond shall, at the request of the taxpayer, be proportionately reduced.
(b)In the case of taxes subject to the jurisdiction of the Tax Court—
(1)If the bond is given before the taxpayer has filed his petition under section 6213(a), the bond shall contain a further condition that if a petition is not filed within the period provided in such section, then the amount, the collection of which is stayed by the bond, will be paid on notice and demand at any time after the expiration of such period, together with interest thereon from the date of the jeopardy notice and demand to the date of notice and demand under this paragraph.
(2)The bond shall be conditioned upon the payment of so much of such assessment (collection of which is stayed by the bond) as is not abated by a decision of the Tax Court which has become final. If the Tax Court determines that the amount assessed is greater than the amount which should have been assessed, then when the decision of the Tax Court is rendered the bond shall, at the request of the taxpayer, be proportionately reduced.
(3)(A)Where, notwithstanding the provisions of section 6213(a), an assessment has been made under section 6851, 6852, or 6861, the property seized for the collection of the tax shall not be sold—
(i)before the expiration of the periods described in subsection (c)(1)(A) and (B),
(ii)before the issuance of the notice of deficiency described in section 6851(b) or 6861(b), and the expiration of the period provided in section 6213(a) for filing a petition with the Tax Court, and
(iii)if a petition is filed with the Tax Court (whether before or after the making of such assessment), before the expiration of the period during which the assessment of the deficiency would be prohibited if neither section 6851(a), 6852(a), nor 6861(a) were applicable.
(B)Such property may be sold if—
(i)the taxpayer consents to the sale,
(ii)the Secretary determines that the expenses of conservation and maintenance will greatly reduce the net proceeds, or
(iii)the property is of the type described in section 6336.
(C)If, but for the application of subparagraph (B), a sale would be prohibited by subparagraph (A)(iii), then the Tax Court shall have jurisdiction to review the Secretary’s determination under subparagraph (B) that the property may be sold. Such review may be commenced upon motion by either the Secretary or the taxpayer. An order of the Tax Court disposing of a motion under this paragraph shall be reviewable in the same manner as a decision of the Tax Court.
(c)(1)Where a jeopardy assessment has been made under section 6862(a), the property seized for the collection of the tax shall not be sold—
(A)if a civil action is commenced in accordance with section 7429(b), on or before the day on which the district court judgment in such action becomes final, or
(B)if subparagraph (A) does not apply, before the day after the expiration of the period provided in section 7429(a) for requesting an administrative review, and if such review is requested, before the day after the expiration of the period provided in section 7429(b), for commencing an action in the district court.
(2)With respect to any property described in paragraph (1), the exceptions provided by subsection (b)(3)(B) shall apply.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–141 substituted “6852,” for “6852,,”. 1989—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 101–239 made technical correction to Pub. L. 100–203, § 10713(b)(2)(E)(iii), see 1987 Amendment note below. 1988—Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 100–647 added subpar. (C). 1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–203, § 10713(b)(2)(E)(i), substituted “6851, 6852,” for “6851”. Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 100–203, § 10713(b)(2)(E)(ii), substituted “6851, 6852, or 6861” for “6851 or 6861”. Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 100–203, § 10713(b)(2)(E)(iii), as amended by Pub. L. 101–239, substituted “6851(a), 6852(a), nor 6861(a)” for “6851(a) nor 6861(a)”. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1204(c)(7), 1906(b)(13)(A), inserted reference to section 6851, substituted “an assessment” for “a jeopardy assessment”, struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”, and substituted “such assessment” for “the jeopardy assessment”. Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1204(c)(8), substituted “an assessment has been made under section 6851 or 6861,” for “a jeopardy assessment has been made under section 6861” in provisions preceding cl. (i), added cl. (i), redesignated former cl. (i) as (ii) and substituted “before the issuance of the notice of deficiency described in section 6851(b) or 6861(b), and the expiration of the period” for “if section 6861(b) is applicable, prior to the issuance of the notice of deficiency and the expiration of the time”, redesignated former cl. (ii) as (iii) and substituted “assessment), before the expiration” for “jeopardy assessment under section 6861), prior to the expiration” and “if neither section 6851(a) nor 6861(a) were applicable” for “if section 6861(a) were not applicable”, and inserted provisions following cl. (iii). Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(a)(38), struck out subpar. (C) which had limited the applicability of subpars. (A) and (B) to jeopardy assessments made on or after Jan. 1, 1955, with respect to taxes imposed by this title, and with respect to taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1939. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1204(c)(9), added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1989 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–239 effective as if included in the provision of the Revenue Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100–203, title X, to which such amendment relates, see section 7823 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 26 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1988 Amendment Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6245(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3751, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the 90th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988].”

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by section 1204(c)(7)–(9) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to action taken under section 6851, 6861, or 6862 of this title where notice and demand takes place after Feb. 28, 1977, see section 1204(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, as amended, set out as a note under section 6851 of this title. Amendment by section 1906(a)(38), (b)(13)(A) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective on first day of first month which begins more than ninety days after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1906(d)(1) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 6013 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6863

Title 26Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60