State Agencies in TOP as Debtors: How to Resolve Debts Owed by States to the Federal Government
Individuals, businesses, and states owe nontax debts to the federal government for various reasons. Examples of debts owed to the federal government can include grant overpayments, loans, overpayments on projects, and debts owed to Medicare. On occasion, an entity's indebtedness to the federal government will become delinquent.
As required by federal law, federal agencies submit these delinquent debts to the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) for interception of eligible federal and state payments payable to the delinquent debtor, a process known as "centralized offset."
Are payments to you being reduced in order to pay a debt?
If you have received a delinquent debt notice or are missing money from your federal tax refund, paycheck, or federal benefits, you owe a debt. Learn about your options here.
Downloadable Resources
- TOP Rules & Requirements
- Offset of EAJA Payments
- Overview of the centralized offset of payments representing reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs under the Equal Access of Justice Act.