When Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxes are intercepted to pay child support arrears and the taxes were filed jointly with a current spouse, a six-month hold is placed on the distribution of these funds.
The full amount will be credited to the balance due on the case and reported on the custodial party’s monthly statement; however, a payment will not be issued for six months. This is done so, if the current spouse files an injured spouse claim (the spouse of the parent who owes child support arrears is not legally responsible to pay those arrears), the money is on hold and can be sent back to the IRS.