Tax Topic 203: reduced refund.
Topic 203 explains reduced refunds. Part or all of your refund may have paid a tax you owe or another debt.
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Who takes the money
The IRS can apply a refund to federal tax you owe. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service, through the Treasury Offset Program, can apply it to past-due child support, federal agency non-tax debts, state income tax and some unemployment compensation debts.
Who to call
The Bureau of the Fiscal Service mails a notice with the agency and amount. Its line, 800-304-3107, tells you which agency received the money. Disputes go to that agency, not to the IRS.
Married filing jointly
If the debt is only your spouse's, you may be able to get your share back with Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation.
Questions people ask
Can the IRS tell me which agency took my refund?
No. The IRS is not given the offset details; the Bureau of the Fiscal Service notice and its phone line are the source.
Sources
Checked against these sources on October 30, 2026.