If you owe money to a federal or state agency, the federal government may use part or all of your federal tax refund to repay the debt. This is called a tax refund offset.
If your tax refund is lower than you calculated, it may be due to a tax refund offset for an unpaid debt such as child support.
See Also
Average tax refund statistics5 Hidden Ways to Boost Your Tax RefundRules for Claiming Dependents on TaxesGuide to Filing Taxes as Head of HouseholdGet answers to frequently asked questions about the Treasury Offset Program (TOP),including:
- Why was my tax refund reduced?
- How do I find out which federal or state agency requested the offset?
- How do I correct an offset that was made in error?
LAST UPDATED: January 5, 2024
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