IRS Letter 1058 / LT11 — Final Notice of Intent to Levy
The complete practitioner guide to IRS Letter 1058 / LT11 — covering the CDP hearing right, the 30-day response deadline, collection alternatives, and the Tax Court appeal process.
What is IRS Letter 1058 / LT11?
IRS Letter 1058 (or LT11, which is the same notice in a different format) is the 'Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing.' It is the last notice in the IRS collection sequence before the IRS begins levying the taxpayer's assets (bank accounts, wages, accounts receivable, retirement accounts). The Letter 1058 / LT11 triggers the taxpayer's Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing right under §6330.
The CDP hearing right is one of the most important taxpayer rights in the collection process. By requesting a CDP hearing within 30 days of the date of the Letter 1058 / LT11, the taxpayer can: (1) raise collection alternatives (installment agreement, CNC, OIC); (2) challenge the underlying tax liability (if the taxpayer has not previously had an opportunity to dispute the liability); and (3) preserve the right to appeal the IRS's collection determination to the U.S. Tax Court.
The 30-Day CDP Hearing Request Deadline
The taxpayer must request a CDP hearing within 30 days of the date of the Letter 1058 / LT11. The CDP hearing request must be made in writing (using Form 12153, Request for a Collection Due Process or Equivalent Hearing) and must be sent to the IRS address shown on the Letter 1058 / LT11. The CDP hearing request must be postmarked within 30 days of the date of the notice.
If the taxpayer misses the 30-day CDP hearing deadline, they may still request an Equivalent Hearing within one year of the date of the Letter 1058 / LT11. The Equivalent Hearing provides the same collection alternatives as the CDP hearing but does not preserve the right to appeal to the Tax Court. Practitioners should advise clients who receive a Letter 1058 / LT11 to request a CDP hearing immediately — do not wait.
What Happens at the CDP Hearing?
The CDP hearing is conducted by an IRS Appeals Officer who is independent of the Collection function. At the CDP hearing, the taxpayer can: (1) raise collection alternatives (installment agreement, CNC, OIC, innocent spouse relief, penalty abatement); (2) challenge the underlying tax liability (if the taxpayer has not previously had an opportunity to dispute the liability — e.g., if the tax was assessed by substitute for return); and (3) raise procedural issues (e.g., the IRS failed to follow proper collection procedures).
The Appeals Officer will issue a Notice of Determination after the CDP hearing, which sets forth the Appeals Officer's determination regarding the collection alternatives and any other issues raised by the taxpayer. The taxpayer has 30 days from the date of the Notice of Determination to appeal the determination to the U.S. Tax Court.
Collection Alternatives at the CDP Hearing
The most common collection alternatives raised at CDP hearings are: (1) Installment Agreement (IA) — allows the taxpayer to pay the balance due in monthly installments over up to 72 months (or longer for partial payment installment agreements); (2) Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status — the IRS temporarily suspends collection activity if the taxpayer can demonstrate that they have no ability to pay; (3) Offer in Compromise (OIC) — allows the taxpayer to settle their tax liability for less than the full amount owed; and (4) Innocent Spouse Relief — allows a spouse to be relieved of liability for taxes owed by the other spouse.
Practitioners should prepare a detailed financial analysis (using Form 433-A for individuals or Form 433-B for businesses) before the CDP hearing to support the collection alternative being requested. The financial analysis should document the taxpayer's income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.
Tax Court Appeal
If the taxpayer disagrees with the Appeals Officer's determination, they can appeal the determination to the U.S. Tax Court within 30 days of the date of the Notice of Determination. The Tax Court has jurisdiction to review CDP determinations and can order the IRS to accept a collection alternative or to release a levy. The Tax Court reviews CDP determinations under an abuse of discretion standard (for collection alternatives) or a de novo standard (for challenges to the underlying tax liability).
Practitioners should advise clients who disagree with the CDP determination to consult with a tax attorney before filing a Tax Court petition. The Tax Court petition must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Notice of Determination — this deadline is jurisdictional and cannot be extended.
Frequently Asked Questions
IRS Letter 1058 / LT11 is the Final Notice of Intent to Levy that triggers the taxpayer's Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing right under §6330. It is the last notice before the IRS begins levying the taxpayer's assets (bank accounts, wages, accounts receivable, retirement accounts).
The taxpayer must request a CDP hearing within 30 days of the date of the Letter 1058 / LT11 using Form 12153. If the deadline is missed, the taxpayer may still request an Equivalent Hearing within one year, but loses the right to appeal to the Tax Court.
At the CDP hearing, the taxpayer can raise collection alternatives (IA, CNC, OIC, innocent spouse relief, penalty abatement), challenge the underlying tax liability (if not previously disputed), and raise procedural issues. The Appeals Officer will issue a Notice of Determination after the hearing.
The most common collection alternatives are: Installment Agreement (IA), Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status, Offer in Compromise (OIC), and Innocent Spouse Relief. Practitioners should prepare a detailed financial analysis (Form 433-A or 433-B) before the CDP hearing.
The taxpayer has 30 days from the date of the Notice of Determination to appeal the CDP determination to the U.S. Tax Court. The Tax Court petition must be filed within 30 days — this deadline is jurisdictional and cannot be extended.
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