26 U.S.C. § 6532. Periods of limitation on suits
- (a)(a)
Suits by taxpayers for refund
- (1)(a)(1)
General rule
No suit or proceeding under section 7422(a) for the recovery of any internal revenue tax, penalty, or other sum, shall be begun before the expiration of 6 months from the date of filing the claim required under such section unless the Secretary renders a decision thereon within that time, nor after the expiration of 2 years from the date of mailing by certified mail or registered mail by the Secretary to the taxpayer of a notice of the disallowance of the part of the claim to which the suit or proceeding relates. - (2)(a)(2)
Extension of time
The 2-year period prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be extended for such period as may be agreed upon in writing between the taxpayer and the Secretary. - (3)(a)(3)
Waiver of notice of disallowance
If any person files a written waiver of the requirement that he be mailed a notice of disallowance, the 2-year period prescribed in paragraph (1) shall begin on the date such waiver is filed. - (4)(a)(4)
Reconsideration after mailing of notice
Any consideration, reconsideration, or action by the Secretary with respect to such claim following the mailing of a notice by certified mail or registered mail of disallowance shall not operate to extend the period within which suit may be begun. - (5)(a)(5)
Cross reference
For substitution of 120-day period for the 6-month period contained in paragraph (1) in a title 11 case, see section 505(a)(2) of title 11 of the United States Code.
- (b)(b)
Suits by United States for recovery of erroneous refunds
Recovery of an erroneous refund by suit under section 7405 shall be allowed only if such suit is begun within 2 years after the making of such refund, except that such suit may be brought at any time within 5 years from the making of the refund if it appears that any part of the refund was induced by fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact. - (c)(c)
Suits by persons other than taxpayers
- (1)(c)(1)
General rule
Except as provided by paragraph (2), no suit or proceeding under section 7426 shall be begun after the expiration of 2 years from the date of the levy or agreement giving rise to such action. - (2)(c)(2)
Period when claim is filed
If a request is made for the return of property described in section 6343(b), the 2-year period prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be extended for a period of 12 months from the date of filing of such request or for a period of 6 months from the date of mailing by registered or certified mail by the Secretary to the person making such request of a notice of disallowance of the part of the request to which the action relates, whichever is shorter.
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 816; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 89(b), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1665; Pub. L. 89–719, title I, § 110(b), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1144; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 96–589, § 6(d)(4), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3408; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 11071(b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2091.)