Demanding a Common Sense Application of the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program.
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The Federal Tax Refund Offset Program was created by Congress to recover delinquent child support debts by garnishing or completely withholding income tax refunds.
Unfortunately, a parent can be placed in this program before one is scheduled to make their first child support payment.
For example, in Florida, a parent requesting child support can request two years of child support dating prior to the day the court order for child support payments to be made.
Thus, upon leaving the courtroom, the paying parent is instantly two years in arrears for child support. The arrears total is reflected on their credit report. Money is then deducted from their paychecks and their income tax refunds are withheld by the Federal Tax Refund Offset program due to the arrears.
In some states, child support payments can be retroactively ordered to the birth of a child.
This petition is to propose that the paying parent's retroactive child support total be pro-rated into the first three years of their upcoming child support payments.
If the paying parent then fails to make child support payments, the Federal Tax Refund Offset program can be applied to settle the missed payments.
Don't completely withhold an American citizen's hard earned tax refund until AFTER that person has proven that they are unwilling or unable to make timely payments.
The refund might be used to obtain reliable transportation for visitation purpose; to purchase an expensive gift for the child; to pay down debts, including making additional child support payments.
Vicki Turetsky, Commissioner of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, has worked to establish realistic child support policies that encourage fathers to work and play an active parenting role.
Withholding an income tax refund of a father or parent that has not missed a payment because they were instantly burdened with arrears upon leaving the courtroom has the opposite effect, creating anger and/or resentment.
Stop immediately treating parents ordered to pay child support as deadbeats!
Please have the wording of this law amended immediately so it becomes fair and just. We call upon: President Barack Obama; Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; George Sheldon, Acting Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Vicki Turetsky, Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Please sign, support and share!
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/760/062/396/demand-common-sense-application-of-the-federal-tax-refund-offset-program/&
https://www.change.org/petitions/we-demand-discretionary-use-of-the-tax-refund-offset-program?share_id=xIyHzmcfUe