Bureau of the Fiscal Service (2024)

FAQs

Why would I get a letter from the Bureau of Fiscal Service? ›

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service in the Department of the Treasury collects overdue (delinquent) nontax debt for other federal agencies. If you owe money to a federal agency and you did not pay it on time, you have a delinquent debt. You will receive a letter first from the agency to whom you owe the debt.

Payments. Each year, the Fiscal Service disburses more than one billion non-Defense payments to a wide variety of recipients, such as those individuals who receive Social Security, IRS tax refunds, and veterans' benefits.

If you received a check or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) payment from Treasury and don't know why it was sent to you, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service Call Center can help. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service Call Center can be reached by calling 1-855-868-0151, Option 2.

Over the past eleven weeks, Treasury has sent out nearly 83 million checks for more than $35 billion in tax relief. Treasury will continue to send out checks as extensions or late-filed returns are processed.

The Department of Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) issues IRS tax refunds and Congress authorizes BFS to conduct the Treasury Offset Program (TOP).

At the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, we collect revenue, delinquent debt, and disburse funds to millions of Americans ensuring their timely receipt of benefit payments. Our easy-to-set-up direct deposit programs streamline the government benefit payment process.

If it's good, you'll see a watermark that shows the words “US TREASURY” frontwards and backwards across the check. Next, check the back of the check. That endorsem*nt line is not just a line. Under a magnifying glass, you will see it is made up the with the tiny letters 'USA' printed over and over in microprinting.

This could be from a variety of sources such as unclaimed tax refunds, unclaimed savings bonds, or overpaid government fees. It is important to note that if you receive a check from the US Treasury unexpectedly, you should verify its authenticity before cashing or depositing it.

The IRS can choose to mail a check instead of honoring the direct deposit for any reason. This can happen if your DD information is incorrect or as part of the new Anti Fraud systems put in place this year.

All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermarked paper. The watermark reads “U.S. TREASURY” and can be seen from both the front and back of the check when held up to a light. The watermark is light and cannot be reproduced by a copier.

What does a check look like coming from the Department of Treasury? ›

All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermarked paper. When held up to the light, the watermark reads “U.S. Treasury” from both the front and the back. Any check should be suspected as counterfeit if the check has no watermark, or the watermark is visible without holding the check up to light.

You omit a digit in the account or routing number of an account and the number doesn't pass the IRS's validation check. In this case, the IRS will send you a paper check for the entire refund instead of a direct deposit.

The IRS is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury and one of the world's most efficient tax administrators. In fiscal year 2020, the IRS collected almost $3.5 trillion in revenue and processed more than 240 million tax returns. The IRS spent just 35 cents for each $100 it collected in FY 2020.

The IRS will use data already in its systems to send the third stimulus payments. Taxpayers with direct deposit information on file will receive the payment that way. Those without current direct deposit information on file will receive the payment as a check or debit card in the mail.

Department of State personnel are designated by the Treasury Department as United States Disbursing Officers authorized to obtain, store, issue, report, verify, and cancel and reissue checks drawn on the U.S. Treasury (Treasury).

If you didn't get a notice about an offset but your tax refund is smaller than you expected, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (or TTY/TDD 800-877-8339).

Contacts for the Public

To obtain information on whether your tax refund or federal payment was reduced or offset, you can call 800-304-3107 and select option 1 to hear an automated message of the amount, date and creditor agency or agencies you owe the debt to.

Check your federal tax return status online

You can view the status of your refund for the past 3 tax years. If you owe money or are receiving a refund, you can check your return status by signing in to view your IRS online account information.

Individuals may call 800-304-3107 with questions about a delinquent debt. My spouse and I filed a joint tax return and our refund was offset for a debt that my spouse owes.