Whether you have fallen behind on your child support obligations or your child’s other parent refuses to pay what they owe, it is important to understand how to back child support can affect one’s tax refund. When a parent fails to pay the child support that they owe, they could face several different consequences, including the interception of their tax refund.
Aside from the loss of one’s tax refund, failing to pay child support can lead to many other problems, such as arrest and losing one’s license.
Losing a tax refund over unpaid child support
According to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, a non-custodial parent could lose some or even all of their tax refund if they owe back child support. The state informs the IRS of non-custodial parents who owe at least $500 in unpaid support. For the government to withhold a parent’s tax refund, the state must have the party’s Social Security number and the back support must have accumulated under a valid child support order.
Dealing with unpaid child support
If you want to get caught up on the back support you owe to avoid tax refund interception and other consequences, you need to carefully go over your options. Some parents can set up payment plans or make temporary sacrifices (such as cutting expenses for a while) to pay off their balance. If your financial circumstances change, you may want to look into modifying your child support order to avoid falling behind in the first place.
On the other hand, if you are a custodial parent seeking child support enforcement, it is very important to understand your options and make the most sensible course of action.
