Do Not Pay Quick Reference Card

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TOP Debt Check?

Treasury Offset Program (TOP) Debt Check is a data 

extract or subset of data contained in the TOP 

delinquent debtor database. It is created for the Do 

Not Pay (DNP) system to assist agencies with fulfilling 

their obligation to deny federal loans, loan insurance 

and loan guarantees to those delinquent on federal 

nontax debts and child support obligations (if allowed 

by agency statute and regulations).

Why do I need TOP Debt Check?

TOP Debt Check is relevant to your program and 

should be used in accordance with existing legal 

restrictions if:

1. You will be debarring the debtor/payee from 

receiving any federal benefit, privilege or license 

or taking other adverse actions.

2. You will be taking any action to assist in the 

collection of debt.

3. You will be using the information to audit a 

program where paying a delinquent debtor was 

prohibited, in order to determine if your agency or 

the entity you are auditing made improper 

payments.

4. You have any further proposed use of TOP Debt 

Check, which will further debt collection or the 

prevention, identification, or recoupment of 

improper payments.

How do I access TOP Debt Check?

Enrolling into DNP is the only way to access TOP Debt 

Check information.

How do I gain access to TOP Debt Check through 

DNP?

To initiate the DNP enrollment process, send an 

e-mail to donotpay@fiscal.treasury.gov or contact 

1-855-837-4391.

How frequently is Debt Check updated within 

DNP?

Updates in DNP occur on a weekly basis.

How does the TOP work?

• If an individual or business (debtor) owes delinquent 

debt to a government agency, that agency sends 

information about the debt to the TOP database

• Before the debtor receives a federal or state payment, 

the database is searched to see if a delinquent debt is 

owed

• If a delinquent debt is in the TOP database, the TOP 

will offset (reduce or withhold) the federal or state 

payment to pay the debt

• When the payment is taken, a letter will be sent to the 

debtor/payee regarding the action

Any remaining portion of the payment (after paying the 

debt) is disbursed to the payee

When is a debt sent to Treasury?

In most cases, debtor information is submitted to Treasury 

if the debt is more than 120 days delinquent. The agency is 

also required to send a due process notice 60 days prior to 

referring the debt to TOP. The federal agency must certify 

that the debt is valid and legally enforceable.

DNP compiled the content of this Quick Reference Card to provide answers to frequently asked questions related to TOP Debt Check. 

Content was found through research of the data source website, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-21-19. DNP does not own the content listed within this data source.

Depending on the type of debt owed, the following 

may be eligible for offset or levy:

• Tax refunds

• Wages, including military pay

• Retirement, including military retirement pay

• Contractor / vendor payments

• Travel advances and reimbursements

• Certain federal benefit payments, including 

Social Security benefits (other than 

Supplemental Security Income), Railroad 

Retirement benefits (other than tier 2), and 

Black Lung (part B benefits)

• Other federal payments that are not exempt 

by law or by action of the Secretary of the 

Treasury

TOP Process Overview

How To Fix Incorrect Data

DNP does not own the data that appears within 

TOP and is unable to update its content. Contact 

TOP for data inquiries or disputes.

TOP cannot make arrangements for you to pay off 

your debt, discuss your debt with you or refund 

your money. The TOP Interactive Voice Response 

(IVR) system on 800-304-3107 can tell you who to 

call.

Hearing impaired customers may use the Federal 

Relay Service by dialing 800-877-8339 to reach a 

Communications Assistant (CA) who will dial the toll 

free number.

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/TOP/
Data Elements Returned in the DNP Portal

When a match occurs, the search criteria along with the corresponding Debt Check data elements will be returned through the 

search method utilized within the DNP Portal.

Data Element Description

Name First, middle and last name of debtor (may also be a business name).

SSN/EIN/TIN Social Security Number / Employer Identification Number / Taxpayer Identification Number.

Delinquent Debt Date Date of delinquency for a specific record.

Debtor Information 

Debt Number Agency debt number or Agency Account Number— the unique account number used to identify 

the debt account owed by an individual or business to the creditor agency.

Debt Type Type of debt assigned by TOP— either federal nontax debts, or child support debts.

Debt Type Description Text description of the debt type.

Individual/Business

Indicator An identifier that classifies the debtor as either an individual (“I”) or business (“B”).

Address 1 First address line of debtor’s residence/location.

Address 2 Second address line of debtor’s residence/location.

City City of debtor’s residence/location.

State State of debtor’s residence/location.

Zip Zip code of debtor’s residence/location.

Country Country of debtor’s residence/location.

Debt Agency Information

Site Name Creditor agency (origin of debt)

Site Contact Name Main contact at creditor agency.

Address 1 First address line of creditor agency.

Address 2 Second address line of creditor agency.

City City of creditor agency.

State State of creditor agency.

Zip Zip code of creditor agency.

Phone Number Phone number of creditor agency.

Phone Extension Phone number extension of creditor agency.

State Collection Phone 

Number Respective state collection office phone number of creditor agency.

State Collection Phone

Extension Respective state collection office phone number extension of creditor agency.

National Phone Number Respective national collection office phone number of creditor agency.

National Phone Extension Respective national collection office phone number extension of creditor agency.

Will I Need A CMA?

What is a CMA?

A Computer Matching Agreement (CMA) is a 

written agreement that outlines conditions, 

safeguards, and procedures that an agency 

agrees to disclose data by computerized 

comparison of two or more automated 

Systems of Records (SORs).

Is a CMA required to use Debt Check?

A CMA is required for agencies submitting 

batch files. Online Search (non-batch query) 

does not require a CMA, but requires a 

Memorandum of Understanding.

How do I begin the CMA Process?

Contact your Agency Lead or Agency Specialist 

for more information.

Creditor Agency

Any federal agency that is owed a claim or debt that seeks to collect that claim or debt through offset of federal payments.

Payment Agency

Any agency that transmits a payment request, in the form of certified payment vouchers or other 

similar forms, to a disbursing official for disbursement.

Did You Know?

• A creditor agency will suspend collection if 

the debt is subject to a bankruptcy stay or 

if other reasons justify suspension

• A creditor agency will terminate collection 

of a debt if it is paid in full, compromised, 

discharged, or if other reasons justify 

termination

Important Links

Debt Check FAQs

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/top/faqs-forthe-public.html

Do Not Pay

Data Correction Contacts

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/dnp/privacyprogram.html#data-correction-process

FAQs

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/dnp/faqs.html