846 Code on Transcript but WMR Says Refund May Be Reduced - Child Support Offset Question

What you're experiencing is like a train that's been rerouted but the passengers weren't informed. The 846 code confirms the refund was approved, but the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) intercepts refunds before they reach you. Think of it as a checkpoint between the IRS and your bank account. The child support offset is likely based on records in the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement database that haven't been updated to reflect your current custody situation. The IRS doesn't make these determinations - they just process the intercept request from the state child support agency.

Have you tried calling the Treasury Offset Program directly? Or the state child support enforcement agency? Do you realize how quickly this filing season is moving and how critical it is to address this now? I had a similar issue and wasted weeks trying to get through to regular IRS lines with no luck. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. Isn't your time worth more than spending hours on hold? They got me to the right department who confirmed exactly which agency placed the hold and how much was being offset. You need this information ASAP to contest it properly.

I went through almost this exact situation last year. My ex hadn't seen our kids in 5 years but somehow I got hit with a child support offset. I found out I needed to contact both the state child support enforcement agency AND the Bureau of Fiscal Service (they handle the TOP program). The most important thing I learned: get documentation of your custody arrangement ready. I had to provide court documents showing I had custody. They eventually released the funds but it took about 6 weeks. The frustrating part was that I had to file a formal protest with proof even though everyone agreed it was their error.

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I've seen this happen multiple times in my experience, and there's a critical distinction to make. The 846 code indicates the refund was approved, but the offset happens after IRS processing. You need to contact the Bureau of Fiscal Service at 800-304-3107 to get details on the offset. I've found that trying to resolve this with the IRS directly is usually unproductive since they don't control the offset system. In previous cases I've worked with, you'll need to contact your state's child support enforcement agency with documentation proving your current custody arrangement. Even with proper documentation, these updates can take 30-60 days to process through the system.

According to 31 CFR Part 285, which governs the Treasury Offset Program, you're entitled to receive a notice explaining the offset. Did your husband receive any written notice about this? The regulation also states that the debtor (your husband) has the right to inspect and copy records related to the debt and to seek review of the obligation. I'm curious - have you contacted your state's child support enforcement agency directly? They maintain the records that determine whether an offset occurs.

I dealt with this exact situation in 2023. Here's what I learned: • The offset is based on records in the state system, not IRS records • SBTPG won't fund until they receive the actual amount after offset • You need to call the TOP hotline at 800-304-3107 to get details • They'll tell you which agency placed the hold and how much • You'll need to contact that specific agency to dispute • Even with proof, it took me 8 weeks to get my money back • The refund didn't process until the hold was removed Don't waste time with the IRS - they just facilitate the offset but don't control it.

You need to get in touch with your state's child support enforcement agency immediately. The IRS is just following their directive. Your husband should have received a pre-offset notice warning this might happen. If your custody situation changed, the state agency needs to update their records and notify the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement. Don't wait for this to resolve itself - it won't. The system assumes the debt is valid until proven otherwise. Get documentation of your custody arrangement and be prepared to file a formal dispute.

I work with tax cases regularly, and this appears to be a Bureau of Fiscal Service TOP (Treasury Offset Program) intercept based on outdated OCSE (Office of Child Support Enforcement) data. The 846 code with a subsequent offset notification indicates the refund was approved but then intercepted during the disbursement phase. I understand how frustrating this is when you have custody. The system is designed to catch legitimate child support debts but doesn't automatically update when custody changes. Your husband's CS obligation should have been terminated or modified when custody changed, but that requires a specific court action and system update. I'd recommend calling both your state's child support enforcement agency and the TOP hotline (800-304-3107) to identify exactly which agency placed the hold and the process for contesting it.