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<section article="gtg" article_name="Tax - General" number="13-915" title_number="13" title_name="Procedure" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Refunds and Offsets">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A certification by the Central Collection Unit to the Comptroller shall be made on or before January 1 of each calendar year in the form that the Comptroller prescribes.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The certification shall include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the full name and address of the debtor and any other names known to be used by the debtor;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the Social Security number or federal tax identification number of the debtor; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the amount of the debt.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Comptroller shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>withhold any income tax refund that may be due to a debtor whose name has been certified by the Central Collection Unit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>pay to the Central Collection Unit the entire refund or the amount certified by the Central Collection Unit, whichever is less.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>All money paid to the Central Collection Unit by the Comptroller under this part shall be disposed of by the Central Collection Unit as provided in § 3–305 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any income tax refund in excess of the certified amount shall be paid to the debtor.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Comptroller shall notify the debtor of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>any amount paid to the Central Collection Unit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the debtor’s right:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>to request an investigation by the Central Collection Unit of the validity of the debt or correctness of the amount; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>to an administrative hearing and judicial appeal if the Central Collection Unit makes a determination adverse to the debtor.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a debtor has filed a joint income tax return and the debt is not the liability of both taxpayers, the Comptroller may not withhold that portion of an income tax refund attributable to the individual not owing the debt.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>After receiving certification of a debt from the Central Collection Unit, the Comptroller shall promptly notify the Central Collection Unit if the Comptroller determines that a withholding cannot be made.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If an income tax refund is insufficient to satisfy a debt, the Comptroller may withhold amounts from subsequent income tax refunds due a debtor until the debt is extinguished.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Partial payments of the debt shall first be applied against accrued interest, if any, and then to the principal amount of the debt.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Interest on a debt may be withheld at the rate established for that debt by law or contract.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Except for the amount of any income tax refund to which a debtor is entitled, the Comptroller may not disclose any item contained on a State or federal tax return or information required by State law to be attached to the State return.</text>
  </level>
</section>
