You might have a government refund offset. A refund offset is
when an IRS refund is reduced or intercepted to pay off delinquent debt.
You can contact the agency
with which you have a debt to determine if your debt was submitted for a tax
refund offset at 800-304-3107.
The Department of Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) issues
IRS tax refunds and Congress authorizes BFS to conduct the Treasury Offset
Program (TOP). Through the TOP program, BFS may reduce your refund
(overpayment) and offset it to pay:
- Past-due child support;
- Federal agency non-tax debts;
- State income tax obligations; or
- Certain unemployment compensation debts owed to a state
(Generally, these are debts for (1) compensation paid due to fraud, or (2)
contributions owing to a state fund that were not paid).
You'll get an explanatory letter from
the Bureau of the Fiscal Service if your refund is offset. The remainder
of your refund will be processed as usual; an offset shouldn't delay
it, unless of course your entire refund was applied to your debt.
More info about refund offsets,
including contact info and the appeals process, is at IRS.gov
(Tax Topic 203).
You can also call the IRS. Telephone Assistance for Individuals: Toll-Free, 800-829-1040
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).
