Statewide Collections and Program Planning

Overview

  • The Statewide Collections and Program Planning unit with the Montana Department of Revenue facilitates the SABHRS Offset and Bad Debt programs by providing collection services to state agencies, courts, colleges, universities, local governments, and process servers.
  • Payments issued by any state agency or Montana university may be offset to help pay on a debt owed by an individual or business.

The SABHRS Offset Program

The SABHRS Offset Program captures payments issued by a state agency or university to pay the debt owed by an individual or business.

The Bad Debt Program

The Bad Debt program facilitates collections activities on accounts that have been transferred to us by another agency. Collection activity on these accounts may include:

  • Phone calls
  • Payment plans
  • Offsetting of qualified payments
  • Issuing monthly statement of accounts

Frequently Asked Questions

An offset happens when a qualifying payment being paid in the state accounting system is applied towards an outstanding debt.

Any money issued through the statewide accounting service is subjected to be offset.

Examples:

State tax refunds, Medicaid payments, Fish Wildlife & Parks refunds, Department of Labor & Industry refunds, etc.

You will need to contact the debt agency listed on the letter you received if you need information about the debt itself.

It can take up to 7-10 business days due to mail time or bank processing.

We are not able to predict when an offset will occur. If you are concerned about a possible offset, please contact the debt agency you expect you may owe.

You do not need to pay the offset amount if you received an offset notice. If this offset does not cover your full balance due, contact the debt agency to make payment arrangements.

If you received a transfer notice or Statement of Account from the Department of Revenue, you can use the TransAction Portal (TAP) to make a payment or request a payment plan.

You may also contact our Collections Bureau at 406-444-6964 for assistance.

We are required by statute to hold funds for 30 days to allow for a potential objection.

Please contact the debt agency. If this offset creates an overpayment on your account with them, they will review the overpayment and process a refund accordingly.

Unfortunately, we are unable to cancel an offset. The agency that listed the debt in our program is responsible for keeping the balances up to date. If this offset was taken in error, they are responsible to refund you for the amount over-collected.

The debt agency will review your objection to determine if you qualify for a hardship based on their policy and procedures.

Complete the “Request for Informal Review – Collections” (Form CB-1) found on our website at MTRevenue.gov. Once that is complete, submit the CB-1 to the Other Agency Debts unit through one of the following:

Email
DOROtherAgencyDebts@mt.gov
Fax
(406) 444-7723
Mail
Montana Department of Revenue
Other Agency Debts
PO Box 1712
Helena MT 59604-1712

If you disagree with the debt or have questions regarding it, contact the agency you owe.

You must submit a written objection to the Department of Revenue if you object to the offset process or a debt that has been transferred to the Department of Revenue by following these steps:

  1. Complete the “Request for Informal Review – Collections” (Form CB-1) found on our website at MTRevenue.gov.
  2. Include your name, account ID, contact information where we can reach you, and a detailed explanation of why you disagree with our offset process or the debt that has been transferred.
  3. Send your written objection through one of these three methods:
    Email
    DOROtherAgencyDebts@mt.gov
    Fax
    (406) 444-7723
    Mail
    Montana Department of Revenue
    Other Agency Debts
    PO Box 1712
    Helena MT 59604-1712