Form 8546

Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service

Claim for Reimbursement of Bank Charges Incurred Due to
Erroneous Service Levy or Misplaced Payment Check

(Rev. February 2001)

Instructions

Prepare this form in ink or use a typewriter. Please carefully read the instructions on the back of this form and supply the information requested. Use additional sheet(s) if necessary. Submit this form to the address of the IRS office which served the levy or the address of the office that misplaced the payment.

1. Name and address of claimant (Number, street, city, state, and ZIP code)

2. Telephone number (including area code)

3. Best time

to call

4. Amount of claim

$

5. Social security or employer identification number

(Disclosure is voluntary. Omission may delay your claim or prevent locating your records.)

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Information
(See instructions on the back of this form.)

6. Name(s) on bank account

7. American Bankers Association (ABA) number

8. Bank name and address (Number, street, city, state, ZIP code)

11. Description of claim (State the circumstances which resulted in the loss for which you are claiming reimbursement.)

Certification

I certify that the amount of my claim covers only bank charges which resulted from either an erroneous I.R.S. levy or having to stop payment on a check which was lost or misplaced by the I.R.S. I agree to accept this amount in full satisfaction and final settlement of this incident.

12. Signature of claimant (This signature should be used in all future correspondence.)

13. Date of claim

Civil Penalty for Presenting
Fraudulent Claim

The claimant shall be liable to the United States for the sum of $2,000 plus double the amount of damages sustained by the United States. (See R S § 3490, 5438, 31 USC 3729.)

Civil Penalty for Presenting
Fraudulent Claim or Making False Statements

Fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both. (See 62 Stat. 698, 749; 18 USC 287, 1001.)

Catalog Number 63488O

www.irs.gov

Form 8546 (Rev. 2-2001)

9. Bank account number

	
10. Type of account			
□	Checking	□	Savings	

Instructions

Please complete all blocks. Write "NONE" if the block does not apply.

Use this form only for reimbursement of bank charges for:

Records to support your claim must include bank, statements and correspondence.

1.	an erroneous levy, or
2.	stopping payment on a check that the IRS lost or misplaced.

If you have any questions about this claim, please contact the IRS office that issued the levy or requested replacement of your check. The address is on your copy of the levy or the request for a new check.

The claimant must sign this form. However, an authorized agent or legal representative can file and sign the claim if the claimant can't because of disability, death, or other acceptable reason. Include proof of authorization if the claim is being filed on behalf of someone.

Claims must be made within one year of the date the claim accrues and are limited to $1,000. (See 31 USC 3723)

If IRS approves your claim, the money can be sent to your bank by electronic funds transfer (EFT), or we can send you a check. If you want us to pay your claim by EFT, we need the bank information in items 6 through 10. The American Bankers Association (ABA)
number (item 7) is the first nine digits in the number at the bottom of your checks. If you have no checking account, ask your bank what its ABA number is. If you do not complete items 6 through 10, a check will be sent to you.

Please attach verification of the amount you are claiming. Include any documentation you may have explaining or acknowledging the IRS' error. Also, include:

1. a copy of the levy (if the charges were caused by an

erroneous levy),

2. records showing the bank charges caused by the erroneous
levy or the request for replacement of a lost or misplaced

check, and

3. records showing that the bank charges have been paid.

Internal Revenue Policy P-5-39

Reimbursement of Bank Charges Due to Erroneous Levy and
Service Loss or Misplacement of Taxpayer Checks

The Service recognizes that there are circumstances when an erroneous use of its unique enforcement powers may cause tax-payers to incur certain bank charges. Taxpayers who incur bank charges due to an erroneous levy may file a claim for reimburse-ment of those expenses. Bank charges include a financial institu-tion's customary charge for complying with the levy instructions
and charges for overdrafts that are a direct consequence of an erroneous levy. In addition, there are times when a taxpayer's check may be lost or misplaced in processing. When the Service asks for a replacement check, the taxpayer maybe reimbursed for bank charges incurred in stopping payment on the original check. The charges must have been paid by the taxpayer and must not have been waived or reimbursed by the financial institu‑

The following criteria must be present in all erroneous levy

cases:

(1) The Service acknowledges the levy was erroneous;

(2) The taxpayers must not have contributed to the continuation

or compounding of the error; and

(3) Prior to the levy, the taxpayer did not refuse (either orally or

in writing) to timely respond to Service inquiries or provide infor‑

mation relevant to the liability for which the levy was made.

The following criteria must be present in all lost check cases:

(1) The Service acknowledges it lost or misplaced the check

during processing;

(2) the Service asks the taxpayer for a replacement of the pay‑

ment; and

tion. Claims must be filed with the District Director or Service Center Director within one year after accrual of the expense.

(3) the Service is satisfied that the replacement payment has

been received.

In compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the following is provided.

Solicitation of the information is authorized by Title 31 USC 3723; 31 CFR 3.20 et seq. Disclosure of the information is voluntary.

claim. We may disclose the information on this form relevant to the processing of your claim or to any court proceedings resulting from your claim. We may give the information to the Department of Justice for the purpose of seeking legal advice or recommend-ing prosecutions for fraudulent claims or the making of false statements.

The principal purpose of this information will be for our internal use in processing your claim under 31 USC 3723, or for any court proceedings which may ensue from the filing of this

Form 8546 (Rev. 2-2001)