Can my federal return be offset for court cost or fines sent to the Ohio attorney general?

[bluedeb · Accepted solution]

The IRS provides a toll-free number, (800) 304-3107, to call for information about tax offsets. You can call this number, go through the automated prompts, and see if you have any offsets pending on your social security number.

The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) is administered by the United States Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS). It allows federal and state government agencies to collect outstanding debts owed to them by garnishing, or offsetting, your debt with your tax refund.

Government agencies frequently garnish federal income tax refunds since they are the most common federal payments. The TOP is the only way your refund can be garnished; private creditors such as credit card companies don’t have access to your tax refund. Moreover, only certain types of government debts are eligible for TOP. These include,

• past-due court-ordered child support payments,
• outstanding debts with federal agencies other than the Internal Revenue Service,
• past-due state income taxes and
• any unemployment compensation you must pay back.

[Hughes0729]

[Hughes0729]

I just found this on Google.

[bluedeb]

@Hughes0729  That is why I gave you the list of when a Federal refund can be taken.  You can also call the IRS offset phone number, to make sure there is no offset.

• past-due court-ordered child support payments,
• outstanding debts with federal agencies other than the Internal Revenue Service,
• past-due state income taxes and
• any unemployment compensation you must pay back.

[Hughes0729]

Thank you