The IRS can hold your current-year refund if it thinks you made an error on your current-year return, or if the IRS is auditing you or finds a discrepancy on a filed return from the past. If the IRS thinks you made an error on your return, the IRS can change your refund.

How do I stop my taxes from being taken?

How to avoid a tax offset in the first place

1. Make your student loan payments on time.
2. Consider deferment or forbearance.
3. Consolidate or refinance your student loans.
4. See if you qualify for a student loan forgiveness program.

How do I find out if the IRS is going to take my refund?

For further assistance:

1. Call the FMS at 1-800-304-3107 to find out if your refund was reduced because of an offset.
2. Call the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 (or visit www.irs.gov/advocate) if you feel your refund was reduced in error. The service is free.

Will tax refunds be garnished in 2021?

Debt collection is suspended for borrowers who have defaulted on federal student loan debt through September 30, 2021. This means collectors will not take actions to collect payment, such as deducting from a tax refund or garnishing wages.

Can the IRS take your tax refund?

The IRS can seize some or all of your refund if you owe federal or state back taxes. It also can seize your refund if you default on child support or student loan debts. If you think a mistake has been made you can contact the IRS.

What is the Treasury Offset Program?

The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) collects past-due (delinquent) debts (for example, child support payments) that people owe to state and federal agencies. To the extent allowed by law, when a match happens, TOP withholds (offsets) money to pay the delinquent debt.

What is a hardship refund?

But, if you have an urgent financial hardship, you might be able to get the IRS to give you your 2020 refund, including the stimulus payments, even if you do owe for past years. This is sometimes called an Offset Bypass Refund (OBR) or a hardship refund.

Will the IRS automatically take my refund if I owe them?

No, one of the conditions of your installment agreement is that the IRS will automatically apply any refund (or overpayment) due to you against taxes you owe. Because your refund isn’t applied toward your regular monthly payment, continue making your installment agreement payments as scheduled.

Does the IRS keep your refund if you owe back taxes?

If you owe back taxes, the IRS will take all your refunds to pay your tax bill, until it’s paid off. The IRS will take your refund even if you’re in a payment plan (called an installment agreement).

Can I offset my taxes?

To find out if your federal tax refund will be offset, you will need to call the Bureau of Fiscal Service directly. Their number is 800-304-3107. You’ll need to write down information, including the agency that will receive the offset.

How do I stop unemployment from taking my tax refund?

Ask to have taxes withheld If you’re already receiving benefits, you can fill out an IRS Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, to adjust your withholding. You may also make changes to this on a biweekly basis when you’re asked to recertify your unemployment claim, Lin said.

Can stimulus checks be garnished?

$1,400 stimulus checks can be garnished for unpaid debts. If you have unpaid private debts that are subject to a court order, your $1,400 stimulus check could be garnished. The American Rescue Plan Act did not protect the one-time direct payments for people in those circumstances.

CAN 2020 taxes be garnished?

Federal law allows only state and federal government agencies (not individual or private creditors) to take your refund as payment toward a debt.

What can the IRS seize for back taxes?

The IRS may levy (seize) assets such as wages, bank accounts, social security benefits, and retirement income. The IRS also may seize your property (including your car, boat, or real estate) and sell the property to satisfy the tax debt.