My tax refund never arrived. Was it taken?

Tuesday, November 24, 2026 · Question 13 of 19

Probably — it's called an offset. Your refund can be taken to pay a debt: back taxes, student loans, or child support. The IRS does send a notice about it, but the notice often arrives after the money is already gone. If you didn't owe anything, or the debt wasn't yours, there are ways to challenge it — but there's a clock on that too, so the sooner you check, the better your chances. If your refund disappeared and you don't know where it went, we can find out. Bring the notice, if you got one, and we'll trace it.