# 31 U.S.C. § 3701: Definitions and application

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3701

## Section

- **Citation:** 31 U.S.C. § 3701
- **Heading:** Definitions and application
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 16, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 31—MONEY AND FINANCE > SUBTITLE III—FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT > CHAPTER 37—CLAIMS > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL

## Text

“administrative offset” means withholding funds payable by the United States (including funds payable by the United States on behalf of a State government) to, or held by the United States for, a person to satisfy a claim.

( Pub. L. 97–258 , Sept. 13, 1982 , 96 Stat. 970 ; Pub. L. 97–452, § 1(13)(A) , Jan. 12, 1983 , 96 Stat. 2469 ; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2 , Oct. 22, 1986 , 100 Stat. 2095 ; Pub. L. 103–387, § 5(b) , Oct. 22, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4077 ; Pub. L. 104–134, title III, § 31001(c)(2) , (d)(1), (3), (z)(1), Apr. 26, 1996 , 110 Stat. 1321–359 , 1321–361, 1321–378; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, § 115(g)(2)(A) , Oct. 19, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3835 ; Pub. L. 106–169, title II, § 203(b) , Dec. 14, 1999 , 113 Stat. 1832 ; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title III, § 335 , Dec. 28, 2001 , 115 Stat. 1060 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 927(d)(1) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3831 .)

## Nearby sections

- [31 U.S.C. § 3701 Definitions and application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3701.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3702 Authority to settle claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3702.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3711 Collection and compromise](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3711.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3712 Time limitations for presenting certain claims of the Government](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3712.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3713 Priority of Government claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3713.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3714 Keeping money due States in default](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3714.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3715 Buying real property of a debtor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3715.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3716 Administrative offset](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3716.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3717 Interest and penalty on claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3717.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3718 Contracts for collection services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3718.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3719 Reports on debt collection activities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3719.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3720 Collection of payments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3720A Reduction of tax refund by amount of debt](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720A.md)
- [31 U.S.C. § 3720B Barring delinquent Federal debtors from obtaining Federal loans or loan insurance guarantees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720B.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3701. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.