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5 CFR § 845.404Chapter I

Conditions for requesting an offset

Primary source

Verbatim text below is from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the current version with the eCFR before relying on it for any legal matter.

Full Text

An agency may request that money payable from the Fund be offset to recover any valid debt due the United States when all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The debtor failed to pay all of the debt on demand, or the creditor agency has collected as much as possible from payments due the debtor from the paying agency; and

(b) The creditor agency sends a debt claim to OPM (under § 845.405(b) (1), (2), (3) or (4), as appropriate) after doing one of the following:

(1) Obtaining a court judgment for the amount of the debt;

(2) Following the procedures required by 31 U.S.C. 3716 and 4 CFR 102.4;

(3) Following the procedures required by 5 U.S.C. 5514 and subpart K of part 550 of this chapter; or

(4) Following the procedures agreed upon by the creditor agency and OPM, if it is excepted by § 845.405(b)(4) from the completion of procedures prescribed by § 845.405(b)(3).

eCFR data current as of: November 5, 2026

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.