For many of these actions, you can submit a form to challenge the action. Translations of these forms in several languages are available for REFERENCE ONLY. Complete and submit forms in English.
Your driver license may be suspended when your account is more than four months past due. You will receive a notice in the mail about the suspension: Important Notice Regarding Your Driving Privileges and Your Failure to Pay Child Support.
If your license has been suspended due to nonpayment of child support, you may qualify for a restricted use license. You must apply for a restricted use license in person at a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. You can do this at most, but not all, Motor Vehicles offices. Contact your nearest DMV office to find out where you can apply.
A restricted use license may only be used only under certain conditions, which may include driving to and from your place of employment or education, when required. A restricted use license issued as a result of nonpayment of child support may not be used to operate a commercial motor vehicle as defined in Vehicle and Traffic Law § 501-a(4).
Your federal and/or State income tax refund may be intercepted to pay overdue child support.
New York State tax refunds may be intercepted when your account is more than $50 past due. Federal tax refunds may be intercepted when your account is more than $150 past due. You will be notified in early September if your tax refund can be intercepted.
To avoid having your tax refund intercepted, you must either pay the full amount past due or file a challenge by the date in the notice. Use the Request for Administrative Review… ( PDF ) form to challenge a tax refund intercept.
Your application or renewal for a passport may be denied if you owe more than $2500 in past due support (arrears). If a passport applicant is identified as having child support arrearages meeting the threshold, federal law requires that the individual's passport be denied, revoked, restricted, or limited. [42 USC §652 (k)(1)] .
You must pay the arrears in full. Once the arrears are paid in full, the passport will be released.
If you qualify, you may request an emergency release of your passport. Call 1-888-208-4485 TTY : 1-866-875-9975) for more information about an emergency release.
Information about passport denial is included with federal notices about tax refund offsets.
Your bank account(s) may be frozen when your account is more than two months past due and you owe more than $300.
If your bank account(s) have been frozen, you must either pay the amount shown in the notice or file a claim ( PDF ) within 15 days.
Your New York State lottery winnings may be intercepted when the past-due support is more than $50 and the amount won is more than $600.
You must request a review of your case within 30 days. You can call or write to request the review.
You may be subject to liens against your real or personal property (e.g., personal injury claim or award) when your account is more than four months past due.
You must make full payment or claim mistake of fact within 35 days.
You may be referred to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) when your account is more than four months past due and the amount owed is more than $500. DTF can then apply specific tax collection remedies to collect the overdue child support. These collection methods may include:
You must make full payment within 45 days or submit a written challenge ( PDF ) within 45 days.
Your name may be submitted to the major consumer credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) when your account is more than two months past due or when the amount past due is more than $1000. You may have difficulty obtaining a loan or other forms of credit until the overdue child support is paid.
You must reduce the past-due amount to less than $1000 or less than the amount to be paid for two months or claim mistake of fact within 10 days.
After a court hearing, your state-issued professional, occupational, business, or recreational licenses, permits, or registrations may be suspended when your account is more than four months past due.
You must immediately make full payment or file a claim form within 15 days.
