Do arrears due to timing of child support payments lead to garnishment of tax refund?

[strangeratx]

At any given moment throughout the year, our child support account will show in arrears. This is due to the fact that the child support order outlines the bi-weekly payment amount, which may or may not correspond to the full monthly payment amount being credited by the 1st of the month. Will this year's tax return be deducted to account for this arrearage, even though the obligation is being paid according to the order?

 

[Michael Wechsler]

From my knowledge, child support is recognized when received, not when it may be due. If it were, you'd have one parent liable for thousands of dollars of taxes for money not received from the other deadbeat parent. Check with your accountant to make sure but this is my guess.