# 31 U.S.C. § 3720: Collection of payments

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t31_s3720

## Section

- **Citation:** 31 U.S.C. § 3720
- **Heading:** Collection of payments
- **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 II—CLAIMS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

## Text

Each head of an executive agency (other than an agency subject to section 9 of the Act of May 18, 1933 ( 48 Stat. 63 , chapter 32; 16 U.S.C. 831h )) shall, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe, provide for the timely deposit of money by officials and agents of such agency in accordance with section 3302, and for the collection and timely deposit of sums owed to such agency by the use of such procedures as withdrawals and deposits by electronic transfer of funds, automatic withdrawals from accounts at financial institutions, and a system under which financial institutions receive and deposit, on behalf of the executive agency, payments transmitted to post office lockboxes. The Secretary is authorized to collect from any agency not complying with the requirements imposed pursuant to the preceding sentence a charge in an amount the Secretary determines to be the cost to the general fund caused by such noncompliance.

(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2652(a)(1) , July 18, 1984 , 98 Stat. 1152 .)

## 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_s3720. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.