Background

Debt Management Program administers and fulfills debt management activity in support of the OSH Act.  When OSHA issues a citation to an employer and a penalty payment is due, OSHA’s Debt Management Program provides procedures, instructions, guidance and support to those employers.

Debts collected by OSHA are sent to the U.S. Treasury.

Treasury’s Debt Management Services (DMS) helps federal agencies and state governments collect debt (the money owed to them).

The legal foundation for much of the work that DMS does is the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA). Under this law:

Treasury collects delinquent (overdue) nontax federal debt on behalf of federal agencies.

Federal agencies generally must refer delinquent nontax debt to Treasury for collection and report those debts to credit bureaus.

Federal agencies may garnish the non-federal wages of employees who owe delinquent nontax debts without a court order. (Garnish means to withhold money from someone's pay.)

Delinquent debtors are generally barred from getting federal loans or loan guarantees until they resolve those debts.

Debt Management Service Related Programs

• Cross Servicing - Collects delinquent, nontax debts through various means, including administrative wage garnishment and credit bureau reporting.
• Treasury Offset Program (TOP) - Collects delinquent debts, including unpaid loans, overpayments, fines, penalties, and child support obligations, by offsetting eligible federal and state payments, including federal benefit, tax refunds, salary, civil service, and military retirement, and vendor payments.

Resources

Legal Authorities

• Public Law
• Due Process Guidelines
• Debt Collection Statutes
• More DMS Legal Authorities

What if I get a notice saying I owe a debt to OSHA?
OSHA collects penalty payments for citations issued for employer violations. See citations, penalties, or maximum penalties.

What if I get a notice saying I have an overdue debt?
If you owe money to OSHA and you did not pay it on time, you have an overdue (delinquent) debt. Please contact the Area Office nearest you or the National Office.

How can I pay?
You can pay online or by mail.

• Online: Go to Pay.gov and follow the instructions. You can use a credit card, debit card or you can give your bank account information. Pay.gov is a secure site
• By mail: Send a check or money order to pay your debt. On the memo line of your check or money order, write the OSHA Inspection Number. You will find that number in the letter you got from OSHA about the debt. We need that number to be sure to assign your payment to your debt. If you mail your payment, please mail it to the Area Office nearest you or the National Office.

Can I ask for proof that I owe this debt?
Yes. To ask for proof that you owe the debt, call the Area Office nearest you or the National Office and talk to an OSHA representative. We will get the citation documents about your debt.  We will then send the documents to you.

If I do not pay now, will I owe even more money?
Maybe. Generally, federal agencies must add interest, penalties, and the cost of managing your debt ("administrative costs") to overdue (delinquent) debts. See applicable law. Therefore, the amount you owe may go up the longer you wait to pay.

Will this debt hurt my credit score?
Maybe. Generally, federal agencies must report overdue (delinquent) debt to a credit bureau. Credit bureaus give you a credit score that others (such as car dealers or banks) use to decide whether to give you a loan or what interest rate to charge you. So, not paying what you owe the federal agency may hurt your credit score.

What if I can’t pay all at once?
You might be able to pay part now and part later. That is an "installment agreement" or "repayment agreement." In an installment agreement, we agree on how often you will pay and how much you will pay each time until the entire debt is paid off.

Please contact the Area Office nearest you or the National Office to discuss your options for paying the debt. An OSHA representative will discuss your situation with you.

What if I start an installment plan and then can't make a later payment on time?
Please contact the Area Office nearest you or the National Office. Talk to OSHA representative about the change in your financial situation.  

What happens to my debt if I have declared bankruptcy?
If you have filed for bankruptcy protection, let us know right away. Please contact the Area Office nearest you or the National Office.

What if the person who owes the debt is in jail or has died?
If the person named in the letter as the person who owes the debt is in jail or has died, let us know. Please contact the Area Office nearest you or the National Office.

OSHA Debt Management National Office
Division of Debt Collection
U.S. Dept. of Labor, OSHA
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-3419
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-2170 Phone
(202) 693-1696 Fax

To mail payments to National Office:
U. S. Department of Labor - OSHA
Delinquent Accounts Collection
P.O. Box 2422
Washington, D.C. 20013

Find an OSHA Regional or Area Office nearest you.