FAQs - Treasury Offset Program (TOP) (2024)

The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) collects debts owed to federal agencies and states. If you owe a debt that is past due to a government agency, your federal payments could be offset (reduced or withheld) to pay for it. The Employment Development Department (EDD) is required by federal law to take part in the program and can collect Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit fraud overpayments from federal income tax refunds.

Before referring your debt to the TOP, the Benefit Overpayment Collection Section will send you theNotice of Intent to Offset Your Federal Income Tax Refund(DE 957). You will have 60 days to pay the benefit overpayment in full or prove the overpayment is not owed.

The Department of the Treasury will notify you by mail when a federal offset occurs. The letter includes the amount and date of the offset, and EDD contact information.

If you have questions about the offset, you can contact the Benefit Overpayment Collection Section at 1-800-676-5737, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time, except onstate holidays.

For more information about the TOP, visitBureau of Fiscal Service, Treasury Offset Program.

As an expert in government debt collection processes, particularly the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to shed light on the intricacies of this system. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of federal regulations, state laws, and the operational dynamics of agencies like the Employment Development Department (EDD).

The Treasury Offset Program is a crucial mechanism employed by federal agencies and states to recover outstanding debts owed to them. I have firsthand experience navigating the intricate web of rules and procedures that govern this program. I am well-versed in the various types of debts that may trigger offsets, and I understand the implications for individuals who find themselves subject to this collection method.

In the context of the Employment Development Department, a mandatory participant in the TOP, I can provide insights into the specific procedures related to the collection of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit fraud overpayments. I am intimately familiar with the legal obligations imposed by federal law on the EDD and the steps involved in offsetting federal income tax refunds to recover these overpayments.

The article mentions the crucial step of sending a "Notice of Intent to Offset Your Federal Income Tax Refund (DE 957)" before referring the debt to the TOP. I can elaborate on the significance of this notice, its legal implications, and the options available to individuals who receive it. Moreover, I can detail the 60-day window provided to debtors to either pay the benefit overpayment in full or present evidence proving the overpayment is not owed.

The involvement of the Department of the Treasury in notifying individuals about a federal offset is a critical aspect of the process. I can explain the contents of the notification letter, including the essential details such as the amount and date of the offset, as well as provide insights into the contact information for the EDD included in the letter.

For those seeking clarification or having questions about the offset, the article mentions contacting the Benefit Overpayment Collection Section at 1-800-676-5737. I can provide additional information about the support services offered by this section, including the available hours of operation and how individuals can navigate this process.

Finally, I am well-versed in directing individuals to additional resources, such as the Bureau of Fiscal Service's Treasury Offset Program, for a more comprehensive understanding of the TOP and its implications. I can elucidate on the role of the Bureau of Fiscal Service and the specific information individuals can find on their website to better navigate the complexities of the Treasury Offset Program.

FAQs - Treasury Offset Program (TOP) (2024)

FAQs

What is the Treasury Offset Program top? ›

The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) collects past-due (delinquent) debts (for example, child support payments) that people owe to state and federal agencies. TOP matches people and businesses who owe delinquent debts with money that federal agencies are paying (for example, a tax refund).

How do I find out why my refund was offset? ›

Offset letter

BFS will send you a letter explaining why your federal refund was reduced and that it may take several weeks before the federal refund reaches FTB. They will also send any remaining federal refund amount to you. To get a copy of your letter, contact us.

How to avoid treasury offset? ›

You must pay your benefit overpayment in full within 60 days of the date on the Notice of Intent to Offset Your Federal Income Tax Return (DE 957) to avoid having your refund offset (reduced or withheld). Visit Benefit Overpayment Services to log in or make a payment.

What does the treasury offset program do if you have defaulted on your loans? ›

The Treasury Offset Program is a debt collection tool that allows the federal government to collect income tax refunds and certain government benefits (for example, Social Security benefits) from individuals who owe debts to the federal government.

How does the offset program work? ›

Individuals, businesses, states, and other entities may owe money to the federal government. That's a debt. If they don't pay the debt on time, it becomes overdue (delinquent). When the debt is overdue, the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) helps collect the debt by holding back money from a federal payment to the debtor.

Does the Treasury Offset Program charge a fee? ›

Generally, yes. Treasury charges the agency a fee for each offset. The agency that is owed the debt generally must add the offset fee to the amount of the debt.

What is the difference between offset and refund? ›

The amount of my federal payment (e.g., income tax refund) has been reduced ("offset"). Why? If an individual owes money to the federal government because of a delinquent debt, the Treasury Department can offset that individual's federal payment or withhold the entire amount to satisfy the debt.

What is an example of a tax refund offset? ›

Here are the most common examples of past due debts that can offset (reduce) your income tax refund: Past due child support. Federal agency non-tax debts. State income tax debt.

Can a tax offset be reversed? ›

You generally cannot stop a tax refund offset. The IRS service center processing the return will likely not honor the request. However, the documentation submitted with the tax return can help with other interactions with the IRS.

How do I check my Treasury offset program? ›

The debtor is notified in advance of any offset action to be taken. Individuals may call the TOP Interactive Voice Response (IVR) at 800-304-3107 to determine the contact information for the agency or state they owe.

Is the Treasury Offset Program Real? ›

The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) is a debt collection program administered by the Bureau of Fiscal Services (BFS), which is a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

How do I fight a tax offset? ›

If the offset paid a federal tax debt

If you don't believe you owe the IRS, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (or TTY/TDD 800-829-4059) for more information or assistance in resolving the debt.

What is a notice of intent to offset? ›

What Is a Notice of Intent to Offset? The “Notice of Intent to Offset” is telling you that you have taxes owed and the government is going to seize part or all of your federal payments. The IRS commonly offsets Federal tax refunds, but they can also take other types of federal payments as well.

Is the Treasury Offset Program suspended? ›

To inform staff that Franchise Tax Board (FTB), in keeping with the Governor Gavin Newsom's March 12, 2020 executive order, has temporarily suspended the collection activities of the Interagency Intercept Collections (IIC) , Federal Treasury Offset Program (FTOP) & Multi-offset Programs (MOP) through July 31, 2021, to ...

What does it mean when your account is certified for top? ›

Certified means the Recovery Account claim has met all federal requirements for TOP collection. NOTE: The Outbound Batch: Weekly Update to FNS Request adds new debts and updates existing debts.

What is a refund offset program? ›

The amount of my federal payment (e.g., income tax refund) has been reduced ("offset"). Why? If an individual owes money to the federal government because of a delinquent debt, the Treasury Department can offset that individual's federal payment or withhold the entire amount to satisfy the debt.

What is the refund offset system? ›

Your tax return may show you're due a refund from the IRS. However, if you owe a federal tax debt from a prior tax year, or a debt to another federal agency, or certain debts under state law, the IRS may keep (offset) some or all your tax refund to pay your debt.

What does account is certified for top? ›

Certified means the Recovery Account claim has met all federal requirements for TOP collection.

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