Minimum Requirement for OCSE Debtor File Submittals

IM-18-01

Publication Date: January 25, 2018
Current as of:

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

IM-18-01

DATE: January 25, 2018

TO: State IV-D Agencies

SUBJECT: Minimum Requirement for OCSE Debtor File Submittals

Recently, OCSE received questions regarding minimum requirements for submitting a noncustodial parent’s past-due amount to the OCSE Debtor File. OCSE provides a single submission procedure, the Federal Collection and Enforcement Program, for submitting cases to the OCSE Debtor File for each of the following:

  • Federal income tax refund offset
  • Federal administrative offset
  • Passport denial
  • Multistate Financial Institution Data Match
  • Federal insurance match
  • Debt inquiry service on OCSE’s Child Support Portal

States may submit cases before reaching the minimum threshold for federal tax refund offset. The Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) requires that submitted cases have an arrearage amount of at least $25 and is at least 30 days past due.

BFS will not intercept a noncustodial parent’s federal tax refund if the debt does not exceed the minimum requirement for federal tax refund offset at the time of the match. As a reminder, for federal tax refund offset, TANF or title IV-E foster care cases must have at least $150 in past-due support. Non-TANF or Medicaid-only cases must have at least $500 of past-due support.

REFERENCES: AT-10-04

INQUIRIES: scollections@acf.hhs.gov

Scott M. Lekan
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement