Nothing ruins a “finally, we can breathe” moment like checking your bank account and realizing your refund is smaller than expected—or missing completely. A refund offset can feel like it came out of nowhere. That’s especially true if you haven’t heard from a collector in months or you think a payment plan means you’re safe. The truth is, certain debts are subject to interception through government programs. When that happens, the money gets redirected before it ever hits your hands. You usually do get a notice, but it often arrives after the refund is already gone. Here are six debts that commonly trigger it, plus the quick checks that help you avoid a nasty surprise.
