I.R.S. Liens, Levies, Seizures Plunge in 2020

The IRS just released its latest Data Book, which gives us some statistics about another tax season. This means I can update my charts of how IRS enforcement activity — specifically liens, levies, and property seizures — has been changing over the years. In short, all three are at twenty-year lows:

the number of levies, liens, and property seizures dropped in 2020

Some of this is no doubt due to the temporary suspension of tax enforcement during the epidemic. Much is also due to the ongoing degradation of the IRS workforce and budget. (Plans to reverse that are currently creeping their way through Congress.)


In other news…