�| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 28, 2008 |
Child Support Collections from Federal Income Tax Refund
Offsets Hit Record High in 2007
Money Pays Past-due Support
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) today announced the collection of a record-breaking $1.69 billion in delinquent child support from federal income tax refund offsets in 2007.
This marks the highest level of collections in the 25 year history of tax refund offsets and shatters last year’s mark by more than $93 million while surpassing the previous annual record set in 2001 by almost $45 million.
A record 45 states increased their offset collections in 2007, with 24 recording their largest offset collections ever. The average amount collected per offset was $1,156, a $12 increase per collection from 2006.
“The Federal Offset Program has been remarkably successful,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Daniel Schneider, “this success strengthens the well-being of America’s children and ensures child support is a dependable source of income for parents.”
Under the Federal Offset Program, state child support enforcement agencies report non-custodial parties who owe past-due child support to the Office of Child Support Enforcement. These individuals are sent advance notification in writing that they have been certified to the program and their tax refund payments could be subject to offset. An amount up to the total past-due can then be deducted from their refund payment.
“With the help of our partners, the state child support enforcement agencies, we have had great success with the Federal Offset Program this year and will continue improving this effort,” said Margot Bean, commissioner of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, “Most importantly, children and families have benefited from this program and we anticipate another record collection year in 2008.”
For more information on child support enforcement, please see http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse
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Note: All ACF news releases, fact sheets and other materials are available at www.acf.hhs.gov/opa/index.html.