Enforcement – Intercepting Tax Refunds

The Child Support program uses intercepted tax refunds to collect past-due child support, family support, maintenance (alimony), medical support, interest, fees, and other debts such as birth expenses paid by the Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus programs. For more specific information on state and/or federal tax intercept policies and procedures, see the Quick Links.

Important to Know:

• Past-due support that built up while the family received cash benefits from W-2, SSI Caretaker Supplement, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) may be "assigned" (signed over) to the state. A child’s birth costs paid by the Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus programs are also assigned debts.
  
• Intercepted federal income tax refunds first pay past-due support and debts that are "assigned," and then pays past due support owed to the family.
  
• If the family no longer gets cash benefits, and no birth costs or AFDC debts are owed, the family will get the intercepted federal income tax refund.

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