Can state taxes be taken from a federal return? Yes, they can.
If you owe state taxes and you’re due a federal refund, the state government can take that check before it hits your bank account. The Treasury Offset Program allows the state to intercept your refund without your permission. Under this program, the state revenue agency enters into an offset agreement with the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department.
The state can intercept your federal income tax refund if you owe back taxes, given certain requirements before doing so are met. That being said, private creditors do not have the right to initiate such garnishments. They are not part of the state tax return offset program.
How Can a State Take a Federal Refund?
To intercept your federal return, the state revenue agency must file an offset claim under the Treasury Refund Offset Program. If you owe state taxes, they will take your federal refund, but certain limitations do apply.
The state can file the claim only if your delinquent debt is at least 180 days old and less than 10 years old. The agency must send you a letter of its intent to offset your federal refund 60 days prior to filing the claim. If you’re in bankruptcy, the state cannot take your federal return.
Read More: Where's My Tax Refund: An Easy Guide
Where Does My Refund Show Offsets?
If the state offsets your federal return, the Department of the Treasury must send you a Notice of Payment Offset. The intent to offset federal payments notice states the offset type and amount, the state revenue agency the payment is being sent to, and contact information in case you have questions.
The amount of time it takes for the offset to show on your state tax account varies. For instance, in California it takes at least two weeks.
Avoiding an Offset
If you cannot pay your state tax debt in full, you might be able to make installment payments to the revenue agency. Making installment payments does not stop the agency from offsetting your balance with your federal refund, however.
To avoid the state intercepting your refund, you must pay the balance in full, including interest and penalties, up to 60 days from the date of the Notice of Intent to Offset. If you’re protected by bankruptcy laws, submit evidence of the bankruptcy, such as filing date, case number and the name of the bankruptcy court.
How to Get Tax Refund Offset Back
If you filed a joint return and your refund is being offset because of a debt your spouse owes, you can probably recover your share by filing IRS Form 8379.
You must include identifying information about yourself and your spouse, such as W-2 income and tax withholding. This information helps the IRS figure your – and your spouse’s – individual tax liability and refund.
Mail the form to the IRS location where you filed your return. Allow the agency 11 to 14 weeks to process your request if you filed the form with your joint return. If you filed the form after submitting your joint return, give the IRS around eight weeks.
Read More: W-2 Forms: What It Is, Who Gets One & How It Works
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Writer Bio
Grace Ferguson has been writing professionally since 2009. With 10 years of experience in employee benefits and payroll administration, Ferguson has written extensively on topics relating to employment and finance. A research writer as well, she has been published in The Sage Encyclopedia and Mission Bell Media.