If a taxpayer’s refund comes in for less than the amount that was submitted with the tax return, the refund may have been offset for a past due obligation. IRS Tax Topic 203 explains refund offsets for unpaid child support and certain federal, state and unemployment compensation debts. The Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), which issues IRS tax refunds, has been authorized by Congress to conduct the Treasury Offset Program. Through this program, If your client’s refund has been offset, often Where’s My Refund or overpayment may be reduced by BFS and offset to pay:
- Past-due child support
- Federal agency non-tax debts
- State income tax obligations
- Certain unemployment compensation debts owed a state
The taxpayer can contact the agency for which they have the debt to determine if the debt was submitted for a tax refund offset, or they can contact BFS by phone at 800.304.3107 or TDD 866.297.0517. If a debt is submitted for offset, BFS will take as much of the refund as is needed to pay off the debt and send it to the agency that is owed. Any portion of the remaining refund will be issued in a check to the taxpayer.