e-IWO is an efficient and cost-effective way for employers to receive and acknowledge income withholding orders (IWOs) electronically. The e-IWO process does not include electronic payment features. Below are some benefits of using the e-IWO:
- Reduces errors from manual processing
- Eliminates cost of postage and processing paper documents
- Allows reporting of upcoming lump sum payouts and employee terminations
- Allows employers to implement withholding orders sooner so families receive child support quickly
Find out more about the free e-IWO service in this printable flyer.
What is the e-IWO process?
Employers must have secure servers and allow OCSE to drop off and pick up files in dedicated directories. All states and some territories use this process.
Resources:
What are the implementation options?
Option 1 — No Programming
The “No Programming Option” is ideal for employers who process a few IWOs per month.
How it works: You receive an image-ready portable document format (PDF) copy of the IWO and a prefilled acknowledgement as either a fillable PDF or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. It requires no programming and minimal effort from your IT department to configure a server and directories.
Estimated implementation time: 2-4 weeks
For more information about this option, go to:
To register, contact: eiwomail@acf.hhs.gov.
Option 2 — System-to-System
The “System-to-System Option” is ideal for a medium to large employer seeking to fully automate the process to receive IWO electronically and to automatically initiate or update an employee’s child support withholding amount without manual intervention.
How it works: OCSE sends IWOs to you in your choice of a flat file or XML format. You process the electronic records and make the appropriate update to your payroll system based on the IWO. OCSE can send an image-ready PDF copy of the IWO along with your file selection. You create an acknowledgement record, indicating to the child support agency whether you accept the IWO for processing or reject it. You can reject the IWO for reasons such as the person does not work for your organization or the IWO is a duplicate.
Estimated implementation time: 3-5 months
For more information about this option, go to
How do I register for either option?
To register, please contact eiwomail@acf.hhs.gov.