OK, so this is slightly off-topic, but too ironic not to post on. Stimulus checks are being confiscated in Arizona [and I imagine all over] to cover outstanding debts to government agencies: [Thanks L!]
Thousands of people in Arizona have had their economic stimulus payments confiscated because of outstanding federal and state debts, government officials said.
Financial Management Service has redirected 3,635 payments in Arizona totaling nearly $1.6 million to various federal and state agencies to cover debts such as federal and state tax liabilities, unpaid child support, delinquent student loans and other obligations.
Where is this money going?
The Arizona Department of Revenue received 2,944 payments totaling more than $1.24 million from economic stimulus payments as of June 3, agency spokesman Dan Zemke said. Since May 2, the Department of Economic Security has received an estimated 2,437 payments totaling nearly $1.6 million from economic stimulus payments for unpaid child support, spokesman Fernando Vender said.
The Financial Management Service issues all checks for the Internal Revenue Service, and runs each one by its debtor database to see if the recipient has an outstanding debt, Longnecker said.
I suppose it’s a good thing that many stimulus checks are going to pay back taxes. Maybe the funds will help offset the $48 billion that the stimulus package contributed to May’s federal deficit.
