Start with your situation
Keep the filed return, actual deposit, and notice together. Review the agency's explanation before using an assumed repayment in the recovery budget or paying someone who promises its release.
Find out why the refund changed
A smaller refund can result from a return adjustment, prior federal tax debt, or a qualifying offset for another debt. Different agencies may be responsible for different issues. Read the actual notice and identify the receiving agency before choosing a dispute route. A refund expected from software is not a guarantee that the entire amount will be paid.
Reconcile the expected and applied amounts
Keep the filed return, original expected refund, amount received, and adjustment or offset notice together. Identify the debt, year, agency, and explanation. Follow the notice's instructions if you disagree. If a joint refund was applied to one spouse's separate debt, ask whether injured spouse rules may be relevant rather than assuming the whole refund is recoverable.
- Keep the adjustment or offset notice
- Identify the agency and debt
- Compare original and received amounts
Questions to consider
Can a private service guarantee my refund will be released?
No. The reason for the reduction, the agency's records, and applicable relief rules must be reviewed first.
Official resources
This guide provides general information. It does not assess your eligibility, establish representation or guarantee an outcome. Check current agency guidance and get advice based on your own facts.