republic-os/legal/us/code/title-26/chapter-76/section-7403.md

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LegalText	26 U.S.C. § 7403	Action to enforce lien or to subject property to payment of tax	us	united_states_code	code_section	26	INTERNAL REVENUE CODE	76	JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS	7403	26 U.S.C. § 7403	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc26@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t26/s7403	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-26/usc26.xml	fd729b5a0a575db005f846f744def15558f0171f33700b7d0eda9de691633be3	a261f094809116f42a96648a3d5eee80fa010379d67412551c21dd5c900b27f4	38fa9d1fae4fddddd92802bc50ea99a164bc7b56c08eee55157ac823252d2da7	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

26 U.S.C. § 7403 - Action to enforce lien or to subject property to payment of tax

Text

(a) Filing In any case where there has been a refusal or neglect to pay any tax, or to discharge any liability in respect thereof, whether or not levy has been made, the Attorney General or his delegate, at the request of the Secretary, may direct a civil action to be filed in a district court of the United States to enforce the lien of the United States under this title with respect to such tax or liability or to subject any property, of whatever nature, of the delinquent, or in which he has any right, title, or interest, to the payment of such tax or liability. For purposes of the preceding sentence, any acceleration of payment under section 6166(g) shall be treated as a neglect to pay tax.

(b) Parties All persons having liens upon or claiming any interest in the property involved in such action shall be made parties thereto.

(c) Adjudication and decree The court shall, after the parties have been duly notified of the action, proceed to adjudicate all matters involved therein and finally determine the merits of all claims to and liens upon the property, and, in all cases where a claim or interest of the United States therein is established, may decree a sale of such property, by the proper officer of the court, and a distribution of the proceeds of such sale according to the findings of the court in respect to the interests of the parties and of the United States. If the property is sold to satisfy a first lien held by the United States, the United States may bid at the sale such sum, not exceeding the amount of such lien with expenses of sale, as the Secretary directs.

(d) Receivership In any such proceeding, at the instance of the United States, the court may appoint a receiver to enforce the lien, or, upon certification by the Secretary during the pendency of such proceedings that it is in the public interest, may appoint a receiver with all the powers of a receiver in equity.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 874; Pub. L. 89–719, title I, § 107(b), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1140; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), title XX, § 2004(f)(2), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834, 1872; Pub. L. 97–34, title IV, § 422(e)(8), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 316.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–34 struck out “or 6166A(h)” after “section 6166(g)”. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–455, §§ 1906(b)(13)(A), 2004(f)(2), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” and inserted provisions relating to the acceleration of payment under section 6166(g) or 6166A(h). Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. 1966—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89–719 inserted sentence permitting the United States, if the property is sold to satisfy a first lien held by the United States, to bid at the sale such sum, not more than the amount of such lien with expenses of sale, as the Secretary or his delegate directs.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–34 applicable to estates of decedents dying after Dec. 31, 1981, see section 422(f)(1) of Pub. L. 97–34, set out as a note under section 6166 of this title.

Effective Date of 1966 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 89–719 applicable after Nov. 2, 1966, regardless of when title or lien of United States arose or when lien or interest of another person was acquired, with certain exceptions, see section 114(a)–(c) of Pub. L. 89–719, set out as a note under section 6323 of this title.