Tax Refund Offset
What to do with your “Notice of Intent to Offset”
Poof! Just like that, the tax refund money you counted on didn’t arrive. Get help with your Offset Notice now.
Your refund pays government debts first
Watch out if you owe:
- Government student loans
- Spousal or child support
- State or Federal income tax
- Debt from Unemployment compensation
- Any other debts to the State or Federal government
You are not alone. More than 1 in 5 Americans have student debt, and 17% of child support goes unpaid in the US.
Nevertheless, The Federal government and the Bureau of Fiscal Affairs (BFS) will collect what they can from your tax refund check – before you get the money in the mail.
And you thought the credit bureaus were bad
Using your Tax ID or social security number, the IRS and BFS share information about people who owe the government money. They can withhold money to pay your government debt from your:
- State and Federal tax refund
- Military or Federal salary
- Government Contract payments
- Some Social Security benefits
Steps to stop an Intent to Offset
Let’s get to the root of your debt. You need to prove financial hardship.
If your Offset is due to a student loan default, we need to work with the Department of Education.
If your Spouse’s Offset affects you, you can try for an Injured Spouse Allocation. Anyway, the best way to sort out your next steps is to call us right away.
How to avoid a Tax Refund Offset
You can pay the outstanding money you owe directly. Also, your current bankruptcy proceedings may be able to stop the offset with the correct paperwork.
Call us to see what other solutions might exist in your unique case.
Or, you can use the refund money to pay as the government says. But beware.
Make sure the amounts are justified, or you will spend endless hours trying to get an overpayment back.
But wait! I never got a Notice!
We hear this a lot. We can help determine why your refund was less than you expected. Your refund money was re-routed to another government institution.
But where?
It might take some investigative work, but we have access to the official systems to do this for you.
Call today 800-659-6706 for a Free Consultation
FAQ
What does it mean when the federal government intends to offset your payments?
When the federal government intends to offset your payments, it means that they plan to use the payment that you are expecting to receive (such as a tax refund, Social Security benefit, or federal salary) to pay off a debt that you owe to the government.
For example, if you owe unpaid taxes to the IRS, the government may use your expected tax refund to pay off your tax debt instead of issuing you the refund.
The government can also offset your payments for other debts, such as unpaid student loans, child support, or other federal or state debts that you owe.
If the government intends to offset your payments, they will typically notify you in advance and provide you with an opportunity to dispute the debt or enter into a repayment plan. If you do not take any action to resolve the debt or enter into a repayment plan, the government may proceed with the offset and use your payment to satisfy the debt.
How long does it take to get a tax refund after offset in 2023?
Once your debt is paid off, you will resume standard refund processing time. Typically, the IRS pays refunds in less than three weeks. However, it can take an additional time if you do not use the electronic filing system.