Codified text.
(a) In general
If, in connection with any collection of Federal tax with respect to a taxpayer, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service recklessly or intentionally, or by reason of negligence, disregards any provision of this title, or any regulation promulgated under this title, such taxpayer may bring a civil action for damages against the United States in a district court of the United States. Except as provided in section 7432, such civil action shall be the exclusive remedy for recovering damages resulting from such actions.
Codified text.
(b) Damages
In any action brought under subsection (a) or petition filed under subsection (e), upon a finding of liability on the part of the defendant, the defendant shall be liable to the plaintiff in an amount equal to the lesser of $1,000,000 ($100,000, in the case of negligence) or the sum of—
(1) actual, direct economic damages sustained by the plaintiff as a proximate result of the reckless or intentional or negligent actions of the officer or employee, and
(2) the costs of the action.
Codified text.
(c) Payment authority
Claims pursuant to this section shall be payable out of funds appropriated under section 1304 of title 31, United States Code.
Codified text.
(d) Limitations
(1) Requirement that administrative remedies be exhausted
A judgment for damages shall not be awarded under subsection (b) unless the court determines that the plaintiff has exhausted the administrative remedies available to such plaintiff within the Internal Revenue Service.
(2) Mitigation of damages
The amount of damages awarded under subsection (b)(1) shall be reduced by the amount of such damages which could have reasonably been mitigated by the plaintiff.
(3) Period for bringing action
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an action to enforce liability created under this section may be brought without regard to the amount in controversy and may be brought only within 2 years after the date the right of action accrues.
Codified text.
(e) Actions for violations of certain bankruptcy procedures
(1) In general
If, in connection with any collection of Federal tax with respect to a taxpayer, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service willfully violates any provision of section 362 (relating to automatic stay) or 524 (relating to effect of discharge) of title 11, United States Code (or any successor provision), or any regulation promulgated under such provision, such taxpayer may petition the bankruptcy court to recover damages against the United States.
(2) Remedy to be exclusive
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), notwithstanding section 105 of such title 11, such petition shall be the exclusive remedy for recovering damages resulting from such actions.
(B) Certain other actions permitted
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an action under section 362(h) of such title 11 for a violation of a stay provided by section 362 of such title; except that—
(i) administrative and litigation costs in connection with such an action may only be awarded under section 7430; and
(ii) administrative costs may be awarded only if incurred on or after the date that the bankruptcy petition is filed.
Editorial commentary — not part of the primary text.
Editorial note. Source credit reproduced verbatim from the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, United States Code (current published text).
(Added Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6241(a), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3747; amended Pub. L. 104–168, title VIII, §§801(a), 802(a), July 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 1465; Pub. L. 105–206, title III, §3102(a), (c), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 730.)
Revision history
- 1988-11-10 — Added by Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6241(a) (Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988), 102 Stat. 3747.
- 1996-07-30 — Amended by Pub. L. 104–168 (Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2) to broaden the standard of liability and increase the damages cap.
- 1998-07-22 — Amended by Pub. L. 105–206 (IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998) to add negligent disregard and further expand relief, including the bankruptcy-procedure remedy under subsection (e).