How are you doing? I see your wanting to know if a hospital can take your tax refund.
I will gladly help you with this.
The bill for a hospital visit, however brief, may be enough to send you back to the emergency room, especially if you don’t have the money to pay for it. If you’re expecting a tax refund, you may fear that the hospital you owe money to will intercept your check from Uncle Sam to satisfy the outstanding balance. Understand your rights to avoid unpleasant surprises at tax time.
Garnishment vs. Interception
While the hospital you owe money to can’t directly intercept a tax refund, that doesn’t mean it can’t get its hands on your refund. Like any other bill collector, it can get a judgment against you in court for the outstanding bill. Then, it can request that the court seize your bank accounts so that it can collect on the debt. Assuming that you’ve had your tax refund direct-deposited into your bank account or that you personally deposited your check from Uncle Sam into your account prior to the seizure order, the money from your tax return will be in your account and there for the taking.
This answer is partially incorrect. The hospital bills can be paid for directly from the state tax. Most states have laws that allow the state treasury to take state tax refunds to give to hospitals for debt. I know because they take mine every year. It s the state agency that sends me a notice that says my tax has been seized in payment of a debt. The hospital never sends a receipt for the payment. It isn't a bank interception. It has nothing to do with the bank. So in response to the original question, yes- your tax can be taken to pay hospital bills. However, your federal tax is less likely to be at risk, unless a previous seizure order is in place for a federal debt (previous tax, loan default, etc.).
Your answer implies if a court judgement isn't already in place, the return is basically safe, when in reality, if you owe a debt, they can take your state tax, then they can get a judgement for the bank and take the rest.
So they can take my tax return refund every year and there is nothing that can help especially if I was unemployed and had no income and needed that refund 2018 to live I lost everything. And I am in the low income bracket and them taking it doesn't seem right I had no choice to be transferred to the hospital. It's a government hospital. Is there a program or a less reduced payment pay.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
I never received a judgment, court order etc for my state refund that is taken every year from Chesapeake Regional Hospital. For the past 8 years i have set up direct deposit for my federal and state refund for my bank account I never receive my state return I always get a letter in the mail itemizing the full amount that has been taken from this Hospital I feel in some sorts that this is against the law if I've never signed an agreement but that form of payment to be received they should not be able to touch my state return I have not seen it for 8 years they do not collect it from my bank account they automatically sees the money before it even hits the account
It depends. It depends on the state in which you live.
Generally your refund can be garnished for federal and state tax debts and child support.
Here is an article that gives a general overview of debts that can be collected. However, please note at the top, that the article acknowledges that some states allow private creditors to also collect debts in this manner:Who can garnish and income tax refund?
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I know this is an old post but something seems wrong here...UVA is still doing this with my state taxes . They did it in 2019 and 2020 taxes. They got in trouble for ferti g credit on THEIR taxes for "write offs" and "charitable care " then they turned around and still collected the money? That was considered double dipping. But bvb they are still getting away with it because I qualified and my Bill's were paid with charitable care. I had no balance then on my credit report is all these collections from Bull City their collection agency from the same day of service where they insisted I stay a week and have tons of test run on me. I had to Insist and sign myself out. My bill wound up being over $17,000.00 for sepsis in my kidney. They sent the accounts lady around to get my financial info and before I left I had my employer personally bring my required information to get my approval and I was approved. Then they ruined my credit and y putting the bills.on my credit report anyway.i dont understand. So watch out. I'm getting Legal Aid on it.
As long as there is a valid OFFSET in place with the state then they are obligated to intercept the refund. Use whatever means you can to get the offset removed by the company you owe.
I had a bill from 2008 that was taken from my 2016 tax return and I’m trying to get proof it was paid to show to their agents how do I get my hands on that
@srk4 2016? TurboTax never never knows about offsets to your federal or state refunds. The IRS or state does not tell TurboTax when a refund is seized for a debt you owe. When your refund was seized you should have received a letter from the IRS or state---whichever one seized it----that explained why your refund was taken. Contact either the IRS or state to see if they can give you the proof that your refund was taken.
To call the IRS:IRS: 800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Mon-Fri
Listen to each menu before making the selection.
First choose your language. Press 1 for English.
Then do NOT choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
Instead, press 2 for "personal income tax".
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions." It should then transfer you to an agent.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
The debtor is informed in 60 days in advance that an offset will happen, but you may have moved since your last filing, and find this to be a complete surprise. You do have rights in addition to that notice, such as the debt not being in bankruptcy, forbearance, or under appeal.
How Do I Find Out for Sure?
To find out if your federal tax refund will be offset, you will need to call the Bureau of Fiscal Service directly. Their number is 800-304-3107. You may not have anyone else call for you, nor may you call on anyone else’s behalf, this is a criminal offense – don’t do it.