Federal Tax Refund Offset, Administrative Offset, and Passport Denial

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 1 Payment File Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 1 CSP FCE Processing Screens Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 1 Output Record Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 1 Input Record Form and Instruction	Modified
Form 1 Certification Letter Form and Instruction	Modified
0970-0161_FO_AO_PD_Supporting Statement_033125_Final Clean.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-04-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
9939	Payment File Form and Instruction	Modified
192238	CSP FCE Processing Screens Form and Instruction	Modified
179585	Output Record Form and Instruction	Modified
179584	Input Record Form and Instruction	Modified
179583	Certification Letter Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0970-0161	ICR Reference No: 202504-0970-014
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202203-0970-009
Agency/Subagency: HHS/ACF	Agency Tracking No: OCSE
Title: Federal Tax Refund Offset, Administrative Offset, and Passport Denial
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 05/28/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2025
Responses	57,030	57,030
Time Burden (Hours)	3,035	3,035
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) helps state child support agencies (CSA) develop, manage, and operate their programs effectively according to federal law. OCSE operates the Federal Collections Enforcement (FCE) program, which provides limited enforcement services that facilitate collecting past-due child and spousal support. This information collection ensures continued compliance with federal law that requires and governs the Federal Tax Refund Offset, Administrative Offset, and Passport Denial programs. The Federal Tax Refund Offset and Administrative Offset programs are conducted by OCSE and the Department of the Treasury’s (U.S. Treasury) Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS). The Passport Denial Program is conducted by OCSE and the U.S. Department of State (DOS). The information collection activities are authorized as follows: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulation requires state CSAs to notify OCSE of any deletion of or change in the debt submitted for federal tax refund offset. U.S. Treasury regulations also require states to notify OCSE of any decrease in or elimination of an amount referred for collection by federal income tax refund offset and by administrative offset within timeframes established by OCSE. 45 CFR 303.72(d)(2); 31 CFR 285.1(g); and 31 CFR 285.3(c)(5). The Federal Tax Refund Offset Program requires state CSAs to submit past-due support case information that meets specific criteria to offset a federal tax refund of a noncustodial parent owing past-due support. 42 U.S.C. §§ 652(b) and 664; 26 U.S.C. § 6402(c); 45 CFR 302.60 and 303.72. The Administrative Offset Program requires state CSAs to submit past-due support case information that meets specific criteria to withhold federal payments, other than federal tax refunds, to a noncustodial parent who owes past-due support. State participation in the Administrative Offset Program is optional, but states opting to participate must comply with federal requirements, including submitting the information required for the proposed collection. 31 U.S.C. § 3716(h); the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134, April 26, 1996); 31 CFR 285.1 and 285.3. The Passport Denial Program requires state CSAs to submit to DOS past-due support case information that meets specific criteria for the denial, revocation, restriction, or limitation of a passport held by a noncustodial parent who owes past-due support. 42 U.S.C. §§ 654(31) and 652(k); 22 CFR 51.60. State CSAs must submit the Annual Certification Letter to certify that each case submitted to OCSE for the Federal Tax Refund Offset, Administrative Offset, and Passport Denial programs meets federal requirements. 42 U.S.C. § 664; 31 CFR 285.1 and 285.3; 42 U.S.C. § 654(31). OCSE made minor formatting enhancements to the FCE Portal screens and removed the option to select gender. These program changes do not impact the burden.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 652(b) and 664 Name of Law: The Federal Tax Refund Offset Program
   US Code: 31 USC 3716(h) Name of Law: Administrative Offset
   US Code: 42 USC 654(31) and 652(k) Name of Law: Passport Denial
   US Code: 26 USC 6402(c) Name of Law: The Federal Tax Refund Offset Program
   PL: Pub.L. 104 - 134 31001 Name of Law: Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 84155	10/21/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 22306	05/27/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 5

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
CSP FCE Processing Screens	1	CSP FCE Processing Screens
Certification Letter	1	Annual Certification Letter
Input Record	1	Input Records
Output Record	1	Output Record Specs
Payment File	1	Payment File

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	57,030	57,030	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,035	3,035	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $6,140,687

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 05/28/2025

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