Alabama Administrative Code
Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Chapter 660-3-6 - STATE AND FEDERAL INTERCEPT PROGRAMS
Section 660-3-6-.08 - Procedures For Handling Complaints

(a) Noncustodial parents (or their current spouses) may file a complaint orally or in writing at any time after they receive the pre-offset notice.

(b) On receiving a complaint, the worker must conduct a case review in an effort to resolve the complaint. The noncustodial parent (or their spouse in regard to tax offset) may request an administrative review. If a joint tax refund has already been offset at the time of the complaint, the IV-D agency must refer the injured spouse to the IRS.

(c) If the review results in a deletion of, or decrease in, the amount referred for offset, the Department must notify OCSE using prescribed procedures for updates.

(a) The Internal Revenue Service will issue notification to the noncustodial parent (and their spouse if joint return filed) that part or all of a tax refund has been received to satisfy a past-due support obligation and refer him to DHR to correct any errors or answer questions. Requests for administrative hearings should be made in writing to the County DHR or the State DHR. Administrative hearings will be conducted in accordance with hearings policy of the Department.

(b) The Department cannot conduct hearings on federal tax returns where the sole issue involves joint refunds or joint returns. These cases must be referred to IRS.

(a) Noncustodial parents (and their spouse if joint return filed) have thirty (30) days from the date of mailing of the notice of offset by the State Department of Revenue to appeal. Failure of the noncustodial parent (or spouse if joint return) to apply in writing for an administrative hearing at the County Department or State Department within the thirty (30) day period will constitute a waiver of any opportunity to contest the offset. Administrative hearings will be conducted in accordance with hearings policy of the Department.

(b) Taxpayers may appeal the administrative hearing decision of the Department through the courts by filing notice of appeal within thirty days after receipt of the final hearing decision. Notice can be filed with the county or state Department of Human Resources office. A petition for judicial review must be filed in the circuit court in the claimant's county or residence or Montgomery County Circuit Court. A petition for judicial review must be filed within thirty days of the filing of the notice of appeal.

(c) In accordance with state law, after final determination of the debt due the State as a result of an administrative hearing (or after thirty days, if the taxpayer does not request a hearing) state tax refund monies that are due the Department or its Title IV-D clients will be transferred from an escrow account (where they have been held) to the noncustodial parent's child support account. Any refund due will be issued to the taxpayer at the time monies are transferred from the escrow account.

(a) Upon receipt of a complaint from a noncustodial parent concerning a refund which may be or already has been offset, the child support worker must immediately conduct a review of the case in an effort to determine the complaint's validity.

(b) The state (in Alabama this will be the local child support unit) with the order must send a notice to the noncustodial parent and custodial parent of the time and place of the review, conduct the review and make a decision within 45 days of the receipt of the notice and information from the certifying state. The reviewing state must base its decision on policy considerations of the submitting state.

(c) When the review results in a deletion of, or modification in, or a change in the amount referred for offset, they must notify OCSE within 10 working days of the administrative review using the regular update procedures. OCSE will confirm with the certifying state that the state with the order has deleted or modified a case due to a review. If the offset has already occurred, the state with the order must notify the submitting state of its decision and the submitting state must take steps to refund any excess amount offset to the noncustodial parent promptly. If the client has already been sent the money, he or she is to be asked to return it. He or she should be given the option to pay the full amount or arrange a payment plan to satisfy the debt within 90 days if unable to pay the full amount. (When a review is conducted in the state with the order, the submitting state is bound by the decision made by that state. As in intrastate cases, refunds in joint return cases are payable to both parties.)