DC Tax Refund - Tax Office decides to keep my refund? (income, income tax)

[Econolodge-911]

According to my tax paperwork, I was supposed to receive roughly $500 for my DC tax refund. However, after filing taxes two weeks ago I only received $200 of it.

Just today I recieved a letter from the DC Tax Office declaring that they are planning to keep the remaining $300 as an "offset":

We plan to use all or part of your income tax overpayment from the period identified above (TY 2010) to satisfy District of Columbia taxes or other government debts described below:

Individual income tax: $300.00

If you do not agree to this offset, you may mail a written request....

If you do not respond to this notice within 30 days of its date, the offset will be final. Any remaining portion of your overpayment not subject to this offset will be refunded to you.

Has this happened with anyone else? Why has the DC Tax Office decided to retain the large portion of my overpayment (refund), and what exactly is this offset for?

[terrence81]

That sounds awful! It sounds like they're making you make a donation to the in-debted government. Don't stand for that! I wish I had actual advice. My sympathies and good luck getting your money back.

[Teacher383940]

Well DC automatically took my state refund because I owed federal taxes, but I was also due a federal refund so I'm not understanding why it wasn't just taken from the federal money. Oh well, crazy DC times. I'd say look into and fight it.

[hoopster549]

I had the same issue happen to me and you are lucky. The offset amount was $579 and that was also the exact amount I was do for a refund!

[dkf747]

I've had something similar happen in MD before. In that case, they thought my refund was too large, so they just decided to keep some of it. I appealed and got the whole thing. That's what you should do.

[Prayerandhope2017]

I'm blown away, I filed my taxes for 2017 and the day that the money was suppose to be in my bank account it never came. That when I found out about offset. They took my whole federal taxes and i don't know what I'm going to do since I lost my job. I'm about to lose everything. I'm just hoping and praying that a job come thur because it so hard trying to keep it together for my children

[Spade]

This is an old post but I read this only happens if you have debts to owe. I don't think they can just take your refund unless you owe somebody. If they can, I would definitely write someone and even go down to offices.