Child support is essential to ensuring that children receive the financial support they need from their parents. However, sometimes, circumstances may arise where you feel that you are paying more than you should or may have fallen behind in your payments, leading to the state intercepting your tax refund to cover the arrears. This article will provide useful tips on stopping child support from taking your tax refund in 2020.
Understanding Tax Refund Intercepts
The federal government can intercept tax refunds to cover unpaid child support. Once the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) receives a notice of arrears from the state child support enforcement agency, they will take appropriate measures to ensure that any refunds owed to the debtor are withheld and redirected to the state to offset the unpaid child support.
Know Your State’s Child Support Laws
Before taking any action, knowing your state’s child support laws is crucial. Every state has laws and regulations governing child support, and understanding these laws is crucial in knowing what steps to take to stop child support from taking your tax refund. Familiarizing yourself with the guidelines and procedures of your state’s child support enforcement agency will help you understand what options are available to you.
Contact Your Child Support Enforcement Agency
If you have fallen behind on your child support payments, contacting your state’s child support enforcement agency is essential. The agency can help you develop a payment plan or schedule suitable for your financial situation. This can help you avoid further arrears and prevent the state from intercepting your tax refund.
File for a Modification of Child Support Order
If your financial circumstances have changed, and you cannot keep up with your child support payments, you can file for a modification of the child support order. This will allow you to petition the court to adjust the amount of child support you must pay. This can be a lengthy process, but if successful, it can prevent the state from intercepting your tax refund.
File for Bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy is another option to stop child support from taking your tax refund. Although bankruptcy will not discharge any child support arrears owed, it can prevent the state from intercepting your tax refund. However, it is crucial to understand that filing for bankruptcy should be a last resort option and can have serious consequences.
Make Payments Directly to the Custodial Parent
If you are behind on your child support payments and the state has intercepted your tax refund, you can make payments directly to the custodial parent. This can help you avoid further arrears and prevent the state from intercepting your tax refund in the future. However, getting a receipt or other proof of payment is essential to avoid disputes later on.
Conclusion
Child support is critical to ensuring that children receive the financial support they need from their parents. However, keeping up with the payments can be challenging, leading to arrears and tax refund intercepts. Understanding your state’s child support laws, contacting your child support enforcement agency, filing for a modification of the child support order, filing for bankruptcy, and making payments directly to the custodial parent are all options to stop child support from taking your tax refund in 2020.
FAQs
Can I request an IRS offset bypass if I have already filed my taxes?
You can request an offset bypass by contacting your state’s child support enforcement agency and providing proof of financial hardship.
Can I negotiate a payment plan with the child support enforcement agency?
You can negotiate a payment plan with the agency based on your financial situation.
The state can intercept your tax refund to cover the arrears if you owe child support. However, if you have paid off the arrears, you can still receive a tax refund.
What are the consequences of not paying child support?
Failure to pay child support can result in various consequences, including wage garnishment, suspension of driver’s license, and even jail time.
Remember, it is essential to keep up with child support payments and contact your state’s child support enforcement agency if you are experiencing financial difficulties. By taking the necessary steps to address any arrears or modify the child support order, you can avoid the state intercepting your tax refund and ensure your children receive the financial support they need.
How long does it take to file for a child support order modification?
The time it takes to file for a child support order modification varies from state to state, but it can take several weeks or even months to complete.
