If I owe unpaid traffic tickets in the state I live in can the irs garnish my federal tax refund or just my state refund?

[bwa · Accepted solution]

The IRS will not offset your federal refund for state unpaid traffic tickets, and cannot offset your state refund.  However, your state may be able to offset your state refund for the tickets.  It depends on the state, which you didn't name.

[xmasbaby0]

Illinois will get you.

[whoaaaski]

Yep and California will as well I just had mine taken

[arquerite]

Will Michigan

[xmasbaby0]

Just did a Google search and found that AZ, GA, IL, IN, and IA have seized state refunds for unpaid traffic violations.  Did not see MI, but no promises.  I will monitor this post and add to it if anyone reports back on other states that seize refunds for traffic tickets.

[arquerite]

What if my license suspended and I owe money for that will that be considered as my state and can they take it for and old car note

[hakunamatina]

so this happened to me they took my state check for a ticket I wasn't aware of at all they took the whole thing which was only 242 my ticket unpaid was 549 my question is can they take from my federal which is my big check or they can only hit the state for unpaid?

[xmasbaby0]

Sorry--no information for you for that.

[urfan7asy]

Do they take your federal for unpaid traffic tickets?

[macuser_22]

@urfan7asy -NO

[whoaaaski]

They can't as of yet

[urfan7asy]

@macuser_22 thank you! My state was taken, I’m crossing my fingers you’re right.

[macuser_22]

Traffics are a state issue, not a Federal issue.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc203">https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc203</a>

[angeaux]

If I have received my state refund without any interceptions, will my federal refund be the same or can they take away funds for fines due in court.